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Patricia Anne (Mellin) Zakur, 79, died March 6 at the Connecticut Hospice in Branford after a brief illness. Born July 21, 1937, in Boston, Massachusetts, she was the daughter of Frederick Lincoln Mellin and Margaret Lucille (Donnelly) Mellin.

Pat’s love of life was embodied in three things, a need for quality public education, a firm belief in reading literacy, and a love of books. No grandchild was born without receiving the gift of a personal library to start them exploring the written word, color, and texture. Among her favorite authors for young children were Eric Carle, Jan Brett, Leo Lionni, and Lois Ehlert, as well as the artistry of Robert Sabuda, which always amazed her.

Pat was a public school teacher in Branford for thirty years, becoming Branford Teacher of the Year in 1980. She retired in 2003 from teaching first grade at Mary R. Tisko School. A 1955 graduate of Girls’ Latin School, now Boston Latin Academy, Pat received her BA from Boston State Teachers College, now the University of Massachusetts at Boston, in 1959, and her Sixth Year degree from Southern Connecticut State College, now University.

She is survived by her devoted husband Paul, whom she met while working at Sullivan’s Pharmacy in Roslindale Square, Boston; he was studying for his pharmacy boards and kept coming in for NoDoz to stay awake. After they married in 1960, Paul became her rock for 57 years; they split their time between Branford and Long Pond in Lempster, New Hampshire.

Pat was the mother of three boys which, unto itself, warrants meritorious honor; she was a battler. Left to ponder what to do with her extensive Hummel collection, the ones that survived the boys’ Tinker-Toy bow-and-arrow raids of the 1970’s, are Michael Paul Zakur (Barbara) of Hawthorne, New Jersey, and granddaughter Jennifer of Los Angeles, California; Stephen John Zakur (Ann Astarita) and grandsons Chris and Sam of Sandy Hook; and David Eric Zakur (Mike Lawlor) and grandson Cole and his mom Heather Findlay, all of New Haven; and beloved brother Joseph Paul Mellin (Faith) of Anchorage, Alaska.

Gifts in her memory may be made to the Miner Memorial Library, P.O. Box 131, Lempster, NH 03605. In accordance with her wishes, there will be no visiting hours. Burial will be private at the Massachusetts National Cemetery, Bourne, Massachusetts. Lux perpetua lucent eis.

For an online guestbook visit www.wsclancy.com.