Zachary James Lester

Obituary
Zachary "Zack" James Lester, beloved only child of James and Avis Lester, of Mitchellville, Maryland, was born on July 8, 1993, and called home suddenly on July 30, 2023. Zack had the sweetest disposition and a beautiful smile that lit up his entire face and the faces of everyone around him. He was dearly loved and is deeply missed.
Zack was born in Washington, D.C. and raised in nearby Mitchellville. He attended Thomas Pullen Elementary School, Ernest Just Middle School and Eleanor Roosevelt High School's Science and Technology Program. He studied Music Technology at UMBC and earned a certification as a sound technician from the Omega Studios School of Applied Recording Arts and Sciences.
From Day 1, he was musical. As an infant, his parents kept soft rattles on his wrists and ankles so he could make his own music. At age 4, he joined the D.C. Youth Orchestra playing the cello and advanced quickly. He composed his first song at age 5. Later he played with the Peabody Conservatory Youth Orchestra String Ensemble. He continued performing in high school, college and as an adult, both occasionally as an actor and as a musician.
He loved all music. His playlist includes A$AP Rocky, Rush, Biggie, Slipknot, Prince, Disturbed, Tye Tribbett, Blake Shelton and Boyz II Men. Besides classical cello, he played trombone, keyboards and bass guitar, which he taught himself as a teenager, in R&B, rock and metal bands. He was also a huge fan of video games and competed regularly in online and live competitions. He worked as a certified sound technician and freelance DJ and moonlighted as a restaurant manager, server and bartender. He recently moved to Fort Wayne to fulfill a music dream. He celebrated his 30th birthday on July 8th with a fabulous family dinner. He was joyful.
Zack was a Renaissance man in a band shirt and joggers who spoke Japanese, loved history and enjoyed great food, fine spirits and good times. He was curious about and interested in so many things. He loved Marvel films, the water, traveling, cooking, building things, chess and reading. He nurtured and uplifted. He loved God, life, his family and his friends.
Besides his parents, he is survived by a great uncles Clifton and Lenorris Washington, of Jackson, MS; great aunts Louise, Joyce and Brenda Washington of Jackson, MS; an uncle, Darren Thomas, of El Paso, TX; aunts Nellie Daniels and Shirley Ballinger of Indianapolis, IN, and Adrian Simmons of Greenville, NC; too many loving cousins to name and a legion of friends.
Zachary left a positive mark on so many lives. In trying to find comfort in all our sadness, we believe Jesus was starting a metal band and needed a fabulously bass player, so he sent angels on wings down to take Zack back to get things going. Enjoy playing in the heavenly band, Zack. We look forward to hearing your music again when we join you up there.
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