Obituary
Helmut was born on March 14, 1924, in Neidenburg, East Prussia, Germany. He was the youngest of six children. On the evening of November 9, 1938, now known as “Kristallnacht,” Nazis broke into the Zack home. Fourteen years old at the time, they severely stabbed and injured Helmut as well as his brother, Kurt and father, Aron and they killed his mother, Minna.
Helmut, his father and siblings found passage to Argentina in May, 1939, where they settled on a farm in Entre Rios province. At the age of 24, Helmut moved to Chicago, IL where he met and married Celia Lieberman, of Madison, WI. They went on to have three daughters. Helmut served as a medic in the US Army, achieving the rank of Sergeant First Class. Helmut had a robust career, first working for the Denver-Chicago Trucking Company as a manager, and later as Vice President of International Sales for Ace Fastener Corporation, employing his fluent Spanish in business travels across Central and South America as well as his proficiency in European languages in business trips across Europe. In 1985, Helmut retired to Ocala, FL and started Winding Tree Farm, a thoroughbred horse breeding operation that he ran for over 10 years. In Ocala, Helmut became a beloved member of Temple B’nai Darom. He was president and ritual chairman of the congregation for many years and frequently shared the story of his experience during the Holocaust with local students.
Helmut, also known as Hank, had a deep passion for music and dance that carried him throughout his life, to the very end. He also found great joy in human connection. For 15 years, he was a weekly volunteer visitor at the TimberRidge Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Ocala, FL providing companionship to elderly residents in need even when he himself was well in to his late 80s.
His family will never forget the pronounced German accent that remained with Helmut throughout his life, a reminder of his roots and all he had endured. He will also be remembered for the great value he placed on education, his famous homemade chicken soup, his propensity to break into song – anything from Spanish cowboy songs to Italian opera – and most of all, the immense positivity exhibited by a man who had every right to be angry at the world. But that wasn’t Hank’s way – his approach to life, despite everything, was marked by deep gratitude, and summed up in his most frequent mantra: “I’m a lucky guy.”
Helmut is preceded in death by his parents, his five siblings, his wife, Celia Lieberman Zack, and his daughter, Diane Susan Zack. He is survived by daughters Margaret (Marc) Tanenberg of Northbrook, IL and Deborah (Pierce) McNally of Wayzata, MN, four grandchildren, seven great grandchildren, and multiple devoted nieces, nephews, great nieces and great nephews.
Donations may be made in memory of Helmut Zack to the Keshet My Life Residential at Keshet.org or mailed to Keshet at 600 Acadmey Drive, Suite 130, Northbrook, IL 60062. Please indicate My Life Residential on the donation. For information or to leave condolences, Shalom Memorial Funeral Home, (847) 255-3520 or www.shalommemorial.org.
Guest Book & Memories
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April 21st, 2020
Dear Margaret & Debbie:
I was so very sorry to learn of your dad’s passing!!! Your dad was so very special and meant so much to me!
I have so many warm memories of Hank: Avers Avenue! We spent so much time at your apartment as kids playing together. I loved it when Hank would invite us to stay for his special Chef Boyardee pizza!!!! It was so delicious!
Then you moved out of the neighborhood to Rogers Park!!! I was totally disappointed. But it was fun to visit you in your new location!
We saw your dad when he moved to Ocala and we were in Boca. Hank was so hospitable! We visited his horse farm in Ocala with our 2 girls (Michael not yet born). He proudly showed us around, let the girls sit on his horses and made us a terrific dinner including his special onions and potatoes!
Hank always called and visited us when he came to the Boca area and he did make the extra effort to attend some of our kids’ B’Nai Mitzvot!!!!
My mom loved your parents! Hank tried to visit when my mom visited us in Florida and they always had so much fun together!!!!
Hank was truly one of those special people who always saw the glass as half full–he was able to begin his horse farm after retirement, begin a whole new life in a very different kind of community from Chicago (Ocala), immersed himself in such a meaningful way there–especially in synagogue life and was such a great support for Diane! I learned so much from him!
Sending my love to you both!
Much love,
Debbie
~Debbie Averbook
~Cousin, Boca Raton, Florida
April 20th, 2020
My husband, Jerry Golub, and I have fond memories of Helmut as a leader in our congregation. Many times our rabbi lauded Helmut’s great service to our synagogue and to him personally with the phrases, “I don’t know how you do all that you accomplish,”, and “I can’t express how helpful your good work is” . His enthusiasm for Judaism demonstrated itself in the attention and planning he put into his task as our ritual chairman. Helmut was also a constant contributor to our celebratory dinners. His specialty was a sugar-free lemon dessert which was extremely popular . He was truly a Renaissance man. Another one of his enthusiasms was people. When I went to visit him in rehab he wasn’t in his room. I had to look for him as he was very busy visiting the people that he habitually went to see, “because they were sick.”
~Marlyn Valchin-Golub
~fellow congregant of B’nai Darom, Ocala, Florida
April 18th, 2020
My heartfelt sympathies. I will always think fondly of Hank and the Starbuck chats we’d have when he visited Northbrook. He was always so warm, dynamic and sincere. He was both a conversationalist and a listener. He took great interest in my life and loved to marvel at the growth of Scott, Casey and Drew from visit to visit. I admire his strength and vitality through the remarkable life he lead. I know how much you will miss him. I will too. With love and fondness.
~Eden Mutchnik
~friend, IL
April 17th, 2020
We are deeply sorry for your loss. We recall stories of your dear father/grandfather & the beautiful relationship you all shared. We felt as though even though, we never met, we knew him as a strong, kind, bright, very loving man.
May his memory be for a gazillion blessings.
Love,
Benji & Debbie
~Benji & Debbie Harris
~friend, Skokie, IL
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