HARRY ZARCHY 1912-2002

Obituary

Scottsdale resident HARRY ZARCHY passed away peacefully April 22^nd at Scottsdale North Hospital, two months after suffering a massive stroke, and six days before his 90^th birthday.

A native of New York City, Mr. Zarchy was the eldest of three children of Russian-Jewish immigrants Louis and Anna Berson Zarchy. He graduated from Alexander Hamilton High School in Brooklyn, and received his undergraduate and graduate degrees from Pratt Institute and New York University. He taught fine arts, drawing, painting, photography, stagecraft and other subjects in a 36-year career in the New York City school system, primarily at James Madison High School in Brooklyn and Martin Van Buren High School in Queens Village. He retired from teaching in 1972.

In addition, Mr. Zarchy authored 36 books on crafts and hobbies and the outdoors for children and teenagers, including such titles as Let's Make Something, Let's Make More Things, Let's Make a Lot of Things, Here's Your Hobby, Creative Hobbies, Let's Go Camping, Let's Go Boating, Let's Fish, Wheel of Time, What Does A Scientist Do?, the Betty Crocker Modern Woman's Fix It Yourself Handbook of Home Repair, and many others.

In his retirement, Mr. Zarchy pursued his many avocations, including clockmaking, computer art, gardening, furniture building, and writing memoirs of his early years. He also enjoyed his time spent as a member of the Fountain Hills Branch of the Maricopa County Sheriff’s posse. He will long be remembered for his wit and intelligence, his breadth of knowledge and well-honed teaching skills, especially his handiness in building or fixing anything, and mastering virtually any task he set his mind to.

He is survived by his wife of 64 years, Jeanette Tulman Zarchy; his brother, prominent Big Band Era trumpet player Rubin (Zeke) Zarchy and sister-in-law Margaret Zarchy of North Hollywood, California; his daughter and son-in-law, Susan and Norman Godwin of Scottsdale; his son and daughter-in-law Bill and Susan Zarchy of Albany, California; three granddaughters and their husbands -- Julie & Mark Thurston of Flagstaff, Lisa & Greg Troutman and Pam & Daniel Benhäim of Scottsdale;  grandchildren Rebecca and Daniel Zarchy of Albany, California; and five great-grandchildren -- Rachel and Nicole Thurston of Flagstaff, and Ryan, Tyler, and Collin Troutman of Scottsdale, and many other loving relatives. Mr. Zarchy's sister and brother-in-law Evelyn Zarchy Miller and Solomon L. Miller of Los Altos, California, both passed away last year.

A memorial service will be held at 3 pm on Saturday, April 27^th at Messinger's Pinnacle Peak Mortuary, 8555 E. Pinnacle Peak Rd., Scottsdale. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to The American Heart Association, Desert Mountain Affiliates, Director, Direct Mail, CMS, Attention: Linda McManis, 1280 S. Parker Road, Denver, CO 80231-2100.

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