WEST NEWBURY - "Zak" Pruyn, of West Newbury, devoted husband, father and animal lover, passed away with the snowfall on March 12 after a long illness. His loving wife, Sherry L. Repp Pruyn, and his devoted friend Angelina Exposito was at his side.

Zak was born in Connecticut and raised in Bedford, MA and graduated from Bedford High School in 1978. He attended the Rhode Island School of Design and graduated in 1983 with a degree in design. He employed his creative and engineering abilities in the design of architectural signage while working for Design Communications Limited in Boston for many years. He was an avid gardener and winter sports buff. Playing hockey, canoeing and snowboarding were among his outdoor interests, and lighthouse-seeking trips along the Maine Coast to Lubec were a frequent pleasure. He had a twinkle in his eye, a gentle smile and a soft touch for animals, rescuing and providing a forever home for a number of dogs and cats through the years.

He is survived by his loving wife Sherry, his parents Emily and Ken Pruyn of Bedford, MA, beloved daughter Marley R. Pruyn of Atlanta, GA, a brother Kristopher Pruyn and his wife Laura Murphy Pruyn of Tyngsboro, along with many friends, colleagues and neighbors.

Services will be held Sunday, March 25, in the Driscoll Funeral Home, 309 So. Main Street, Haverhill at 2:00 PM. In lieu of flowers, contributions in Zak's memory may be made to either the Merrimack River Valley Feline Rescue, 63 Elm Street, Salisbury, MA 01952; Pine Street Inn, 444 Harrison Avenue, Boston, MA 02118; The Friends of the West Newbury (GAR) Library, 490 Main Street, West Newbury, MA 01985; or Animal Rescue League of Boston, 10 Chandler Street, Boston, MA 02116. For guestbook, please visit www.driscollcares.com