Kerry Zack

Kerry Zack, 71, of Lexington, KY, Kiawah Island, SC and Fishers, IN, passed away on Thursday, September 11, 2014 at IU Simon Cancer Center in Indianapolis. She was born on December 23, 1942 to Donald and Katherine (Chubb) Sheehan in Montclair, New Jersey. Her parents preceded her in death.
She is survived by her husband, George Zack; daughters Katherine (Andrew) Bender, and Melissa (Mark) Johnston; brothers, Jeff (Lei) Sheehan, and Andy (Nicole) Sheehan; grandchildren, Zackary & Thomas Bender and Chloe & Timothy Johnston; and many loving nieces and nephews.
Anyone who met Kerry would instantly recognize her creativity, presence, and zest for life. Kerry married her true love, George, on October 4, 1970. It's a love for the ages and a love that was immediately apparent and an inspiration to many. She excelled as a mother and Yama, quick with sage advice and a loving touch. An exceptionally good cook, she thrived in the kitchen, and no one benefitted more than her family. Kerry was the ultimate host and recently cooked every recipe of the Barefoot Contessa series. Anyone who knew her knows she would never say no to a nice glass of red wine or a lobster!
Kerry and George enjoyed traveling the world together and experienced many different cultures. As an artist, Kerry immersed herself in the arts. She adored quilting, listening to classical music (or Elvis), and could spend hours exploring museums. Nothing soothed her soul like spending time in nature, gardening, walking on the beach, exploring the Kiawah River, or simply taking pleasure in watching finches and hummingbirds feed. Kerry was always learning new things. She had a voracious appetite for books, and enjoyed playing mahjong. But above all, she lived life to the fullest with her devoted husband, loving family, fabulous friends, and her faithful dogs. Kerry was an unstoppable and unflappable force in any and everything she did. She inspired many and could not possibly know how many people she touched and mentored. To know her was to know how fully one could enjoy life.
Kerry was a life-long learner. She received her B.A. in Art History from the University of California Berkeley in 1964 and her M.A. in Library Science from Indiana University Bloomington in 1968.
Throughout her career, Kerry combined her interest in visual arts, education and library science. At the Pritchard Committee, she was responsible for the successful implementation of the Commonwealth Institute for Parent Leadership (CIPL), and the Kentucky Association of School Councils honored her with the Vision Award. At the University of Kentucky Art Museum, she created a robust docent program that made art accessible to children and the community, and in 1995 the Kentucky Art Education Association named her the Museum Educator of the Year. She also served as the librarian at Indiana University (Fine Arts), Yale University (Fine Arts), and the University of Kentucky (Architecture).
Kerry was an active volunteer in the community, Kate & Melissa's schools, the Warren Chamber Orchestra, Good Shepherd, and the Lexington Philharmonic (LPO). She was a member of the LPO guild, organized countless events, and the principal second chair was endowed in her honor.
Kerry's life will be celebrated on Thursday, October 9, 2014 at 5:00 pm at St. Christopher's Episcopal Church in Carmel, IN and on Saturday, October 11, 2014 at 4:00 pm at The Episcopal Church of the Good Shepherd in Lexington, KY. In lieu of flowers, please consider donating in her honor to the Relay for Life, or a charity of your choosing.