Mr. Z Needs Your Help!

Buist Academy Family and All Friends of Mr. and Mrs. Z

- Mr. Z and Mrs. Z have both suffered from cancer. Mr. Z needs our help!

- Quoting another Buist parent’s insightful heartfelt words about Mr. Z:

“What Mr. Z sees every Saturday morning in the Fall is a rainbow of opportunities…. All children are equal as they journey from novice to experienced on the court of the ABC League…. [T]he life lessons offered are the true gold…. The rainbow of opportunities has been afforded to our children through the eyes and heart of a man who has given his time and talents to the leaders of tomorrow. Our future looks brighter thanks to the vision and talents given to all of us by Mr. Z. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts…. Your influence will live on in the lessons learned on your Saturday court…. The ABC League is truly the ABZ League.”

 

Mr. Z taught us in 5th grade and in the ABC League how to work and play using the best of our abilities. Didn’t matter whether you were the smartest or most talented, everybody learned and won. Mr. Z taught us to treat each other fairly and to do our best. Mr. Z helped so many of us more than he will ever know.

 

If you or your children participated in the ABC Basketball League, you know what we mean. Boys, girls, old, young - everybody played and played together – sounds impossible, ridiculous, corny – but Mr. Z pulled it off. Mr. Z’s magic was getting meaningful and somehow fair participation for and from everyone, together. Everyone played, no one was embarrassed. Year after year, Mr. Z made it work, and our children are better for it.

 

Mr. Z (Thomas Zenauskas) will be 80 this year. Mrs. Z (Patricia Zenauskas) was 80. They are the same age because they were high school sweethearts. Remember it was Mrs. Z who ran the concession stand at the ABC League games, raising $ selling hotdogs and drinks.

 

What Is Going On

 

Over the past few years, Mr. Z has suffered from invasive skin cancer that has progressively involved his left jaw, throat, and ear. Mr. Z uses a gastric tube for nutrition. I walked in on Mr. Z a few weeks ago, and dumbfounded said, “What are you doing?” With a chuckle Mr. Z replied, “I’m eating lunch.” Mr. Z had too many days under the sun playing sports, teaching and coaching in Arizona, and then at Buist. Remember the floppy hat Mr. Z was wearing in 2009 refereeing ABC games? As Mr. Z will tell you, he should have had that hat on for years.

 

Very sadly, Mrs. Z passed away Thursday, November 11, 2021.

 

This year Mrs. Z was diagnosed with gall bladder cancer. Mrs. Z’s health declined rapidly. Mrs. Z was placed in Hospice care at Autumn Care in Waynesville, NC, near where the Z’s live in Maggie Valley. Mrs. Z’s losing battle with cancer and her death together with Mr. Z’s own fight with cancer has been exhausting, demoralizing, and gut wrenching for Mr. Z.

 

Now is the time to rally for Mr. Z!

Watch - Mr. Z still has a way with kids! Look at this short video of Mr. Z teaching the finer points of the game "slap" at a neighbor's house to his neighbor's granddaughter.  https://youtu.be/m1RzMJ4DOhM 

What We Need – How You Can Help!

 

Our goal is $19,500.00. Mrs. Z’s Hospice facility has billed Mr. Z $7,000.00 for her care. Medicare and SC Blue Cross do not cover this. There will be more uncovered bills as well, probate legal costs (estimated $2,500.00) and Mrs. Z’s funeral expenses (quoted at $10,000.00). Mrs. Z’s funeral will be held in Charleston. Mr. and Mrs. Z have been stacking out-of-pocket medical expenses for years. Because of the Z’s health issues, Mr. Z now has limited financial resources.

 

You can help by contributing. A little, a lot, whatever you can do! Believe me, every bit will help! Think of it as helping Mr. Z level the playing field, just like he helped so many of his students do over the years.

 

Also, and very important, please share Mr. Z’s GoFundMe page with other Buist parents and Buist students with whom you are in contact or can contact, anyone you know who knew Mr. Z, had children in his classes, were his students, played on any of the teams he coached, or worked side by side with him (University School parents and students too – please!). Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, e-mail, telephone, word-of-mouth, this is our opportunity to give back to Mr. Z.

 

Please contribute and share as soon as possible.

 

Thank you, Buist Family, University School Family, and all the Friends of Mr. Z!