Jeffrey Zackon

Dr. Jeffrey F. Zackon, 62, of Oley passed away suddenly on Wednesday, April 20, 2011, in Schaffhaus-en, Switzerland, while chaperoning an Oley Valley High School German trip.

He was the husband of Dawn E. (Fretz) Zackon.

Born in Oley, he was a son of the late Dr. Bernard J. and Irene G. (Fisher) Zackon.

He was a 1966 graduate of Oley Valley High School. From 1966 to 1970 he was a student at Kutztown University where he participated in the wrestling program and was a captain and player on the lacrosse team. In 1970 he received his B.S. from Kutztown, majoring in Elementary Education also receiving a minor degree in Public Speaking. He received his Certification in Secondary Biology from Villanova University where he attended from 1973 to 1975. He attended Lehigh University, Bethlehem, where in 1981 he received his Secondary Administration Certification and his Masters Degree in Educational Admin-istration.

In 1983 while still at Lehigh, he received his Elementary Administration Certification, and in 1988 received his Superintendent's Letter of Eligibility. In 1999, while attending Widener University, he was awarded his Doctor of Education Degree after presenting his Dissertation Defense of "A Study of the Pennsylvania School Assessment: The Predictive Value of Selected Characteristics of Penn-sylvania School Districts for Student Performance on the PSSA".

He was the Superintendent of Schools for the Oley Valley School District since 1995. He had previously served as Principal at Oley Valley from 1986 to 1995. From 1984 to 1986 he served as the Middle School Principal at Palmerton Area School District and from 1982 to 1984 had served as both Assistant Middle School and Assistant High School Principal at Wilson Area School District in Easton. From 1981 to 1982 he served on the Administrative Team at North Penn School District in Lansdale where he was instrumental in developing the Midget wrestling program and was also a wrestling and lacrosse coach.

Dr. Zackon was awarded the Eagle Scout award in 1964 and the North Penn Teacher award in 1981. A member of Phi Delta Kappa, he was also past President of the Kutztown University Alumni Association. In 1994 he was honored with the Principal Recognition Award of Berks County and in 1995 was inducted into the Kappa Delta Pi National Educational Honor Society. In 2001, he was named Alumni of the Year at Oley Valley High School and in 2002 he was recognized by the PASA for School and Community Support. In 2006 Dr. Zackon was awarded the Silver Beaver Award, a prestigious honor awarded through the Boy Scouts of America. An author of various professional publications, he held membership in the Berks County Principals Association; the ASCD, the Pennsylvania Association of School Administrators; the American Association of Educational Research; the PASA State Board of Governors; the Lehigh University Chapter of Phi Delta Kappa; the Widener University Chapter of Kappa Delta Pi; and he was also a founding member of the Lambda Chi Alpha Fraternity at Kutztown University. He was past President of the Fleetwood Rotary Club and served on the Hawk Mountain Council

Executive Committee. He was a previous Director of the Oley Valley Business Association and was a member of the Board of the Kutztown Folk Festival. He currently served on the Executive Board of Directors for the Berks Business Education Coalition and the Kutztown University Foundation where he served as Vice President. He was also the current publicity Chairman for the Oley Valley Community Fair Association.

Active in sports and an avid reader, Dr. Zackon was involved in community events in the Oley Valley and elsewhere, wherever and whenever needed. He had traveled to many foreign countries and throughout the United States. He had also previously served as a Boy Scout Leader.

In addition to his wife, Dr. Zackon is survived by his sons, Michael D. Zackon of Quakertown, and Peter J. Zackon of Exeter Township; his daughter, Devon M. Zackon of Gilbertsville; a stepson, M.C. Bertolino of Sinking Spring; and a grandson, Brayden J. Zackon.

He is also survived by his brothers, Michael J. of Limekiln, and Steven L. of Mid-lothian, Virginia.

A Celebration of Dr. Zackon's life will be held on Friday, April 29, 2011, at 7 p.m. in the Oley Valley Middle School, 3247 Friedensburg Road, Oley. Doors will open at 6 p.m. Additional Services and Interment in Friedens Cemetery, Oley will be private at the family's convenience.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests contributions be made to either the Oley Valley Education Association, c/o Oley Valley High School, 17 Jefferson Street, Oley, PA 19547 or the Boy Scouts of America, 4901 Pottsville Pike, Reading, PA 19605. Blankenbiller Funeral Home, Oley, is in charge of arrangements. To send a condolence online, please visit: www.blankenbillerfh.com.