Wasil "Shorty" Zok

Wasil "Shorty" Zok age 92 of Salem, NH, died Monday at Greystone Farms in Salem, NH. Wasil was a quiet, modest man who avoided personal attention. He was born February 21, 1923 in Lawrence to Jacob Zok and Justyna Huzar. His family and oldest friends knew him as "Shorty." He was preceded in death by his siblings Nicholas, John, and Anastasia Balavitch (all of Lawrence, MA) and his nephew John Balavitch (Salem, NH). Wasil made a career in the military, joining the Navy after graduating from Lawrence High School in 1942. He was a veteran of WWII and served for 22 years. At the time of his discharge in 1964, he held the rank of Chief Petty Officer. The next 21 years were spent working for the IRS in Andover, MA.Wasil was an avid reader of newspapers, both local and national, and would make daily trips to the Lawrence Public Library. He enjoyed cooking and his pierogies and potato pancakes were family favorites.He is survived by his niece Diane Banda (San Francisco, CA), Carolyn Balavitch (wife of his nephew John), and great nieces and nephew, Lauren and Stacy Balavitch (Salem, NH) and Sasha Banda (San Francisco, CA).The family is forever grateful to the amazing staff at Greystone Farm at Salem for the compassionate care they showed to him, especially during these past few weeks, and to the hospice care from Life Choice who assisted the staff at Greystone Farm with his care.At Wasil's request, funeral arrangements and burial are private.Douglas & Johnson Funeral Home, 214 Main St, Salem, NH has care of the arrangements. To send a message of condolence to the family, please view the obituary at www.douglasandjohnson.com