Obituary of Daniel Samuel Zaharko

Daniel Samuel Zaharko, 88, died May 2, 2019 at his home in Rockville, Maryland. Born in New Westminster, British Columbia Canada, Daniel attended Coquitlam and Duke of Connaught high schools. Daniel attended the University of British Columbia and received a Bachelor's degree and Education Diploma in 1954. While studying at UBC, Daniel played basketball for the Thunderbirds and was awarded three blocks and the Robert Gaul Memorial award as an outstanding graduating senior student athlete. Daniel attended University of Illinois, in Urbana, Illinois, receiving his Master's in 1955. Daniel taught and coached basketball at the University of Saskatchewan for the next two years, after which he would return to Illinois as an instructor, studying for and receiving a PhD in physiology and biochemistry in 1963. During his career at the University of Illinois, Daniel met and married his wife of 60 years, Nancy Wilder. They had their first child, Konrad, in 1962, and adopted two more children, Mark in 1966, and Anni in 1968. Dan obtained an assistant professorship at Indiana University where he taught and did research in the Combined Degree Program in Medicine until 1968. He then applied for and obtained a position at NIH/NCI in Pharmacology Associate Program. This lead to a Senior Scientist, Director of Pharmacokinetics and Branch Chief of Pharmacology in the Experimental Drug Development Program in the National Cancer Institute of the National Institute of Health. Dan Retired in 1992 after 24 years and worked as a pharmacology consultant for 10 years before fully retiring. Dan had a passion for vegetable gardening, dancing, sailing, swimming, tennis and golf. He enjoyed working with his hands, which included building cedar strip canoes. Dan was very involved in his church, including church school teacher, treasurer, choir, and handbells and being a church elder. Preceding him in death, was his son, Konrad. Survived by his loving wife, Nancy; children, Mark (Theresa), Anni; grandchildren, Rebecca, Sophia, and William.