Ara Matthew Zusky

Ara and I were classmates at WHS. We played little league together and attended St. Andrew´s Episcopal Church in Wellesley. My heart was heavy today when I learned of his passing. One of my favorite prayers comes to mind and it will be posted below. Ara, my wife and I will keep you and your family in our prayers.

This picture is of Ara (age 8? 9? 10?) and me (John G.), at Fenway Park, his first Red Sox, game taken by my then wife Karen O. Somehow we were recruited for Fenway Park duty, as neither Zusky parent could make it that day. It was a happy chore for us, marred only by Ara forgetting his baseball glove when the game was over, then Karen heroically dashing back to the park lost and found and retrieving the precious glove. A merry time was had by all, though I don't remember the opposing team, nor who won :-)

I MISS TALKING SPORTS WITH HIM ON FACETIME! I KNEW HIM SINCE I WAS A LITTLE KID. HE ALWAYS PUT A BIG SMILE ON MY FACE NO MATTER WHAT THE SITUATION WAS. I REMEMBER WHEN HE VISITED IN 2012 WITH PAUL AND MARGARET,THEY CAME TO THE BLACK HILLS WITH US AND THATS ONE OF MY BEST MEMORIES. I WILL ALWAYS CHERISH THAT VACATION! HE WAS MY BROTHER FROM ANOTHER MOTHER, BUT HE REALLY WAS MY BROTHER! I LOVE HIM AND WILL ALWAYS MISS HIM!

Hooriders forever - we love you Ara.

Alex Pellerano

We are heartbroken to learn of Ara´s passing.
We will always remember him as an exuberant child who loved life and adventure . Coaching him in soccer revealed his passion and unique way of embracing the world.
This is such sad news that his brilliant light flickers.
Yet it continues through love of family and friends that surround him
Rest in pease,Ara.
The DiMatteo Family

I was so sad when I heard this from you. Thank you for sharing your memories in the obituary. I never got to know him as Barbara and I drifted a different direction, I do know how loving you both are and I am know he benefited so much from having his family. Love to all of you - Marsh

I met Ara when he was four years old. He filled my life with joy and love and fun and Legos. For Logan and me, Ara is only physically gone. Our hearts will ALWAYS remain full of his 6´5" love and presence. I pray every day that God has granted him peace that surpasses all understanding.

Dear Margaret , Paul, Clarice & Cat, we are so very saddened to learn of Ara's untimely and tragic death. I do remember him playing outside your house, at Upham fields and woods and the T shirts! He was a lovely, inquisitive child. Marcia and Chris Gorgone

I want to add a line to my memory from Henry David Thoreau´s Walden, a book I know Ara took into his heart, a line that perfectly captures our Ara´s impact on people. Thoreau was speaking of a philosopher and a naturalist he loved, and he said, " I do not think that he can ever die. Nature could not spare him." Some people really are just immortal in the hearts of those who love them.

My eternal image of Ara is of him leaping into my classroom with the latest news around and about WHS or an animated reaction to whatever we were reading or a winsome request that maybe, just maybe, I should consider an extension for the entire class, not just for him mind you, for the upcoming paper. Charm was his middle name.