Cal Poly student who died is remembered as passionate singer, ‘but even better friend’
Content warning: This story contains information about suicide. If you or a loved one is in need of help, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255.
Susan Blanchard remembers her son, Zach, hopping into the car after school one day when he was 7 years old, excited by a new prospect in life.
“He just said right away, ‘I want to join the (Albuquerque) Boy Choir,’” she said. “And things just kicked off from there.”
Soon, Zach was performing in operas in New Mexico, finding his voice was his favorite instrument, his mom said. He sang and performed in theater throughout high school, and eventually his love for the art rubbed off on the rest of his family.
“He got the whole family into theater, and we went to see ‘Phantom of the Opera’ in New York off Broadway even,” Blanchard said.
From a young age, Zach struggled with depression, his mom said. But he always found a way to work through it, she added, with music often serving as his outlet.
When it came time to graduate from the Albuquerque Academy where he went to high school and go off to college, Zach wanted to find a way to combine his interests in the medical and engineering fields.
Soon, he found Cal Poly, and it was settled.
“He wanted the best of everything, and he knew Cal Poly had a great engineering school,” his mom said. “He’s really good at math. It was a great fit.”
Continuing his passion of singing while at Cal Poly, Zach participated in the PolyPhonics choir and sang with That’s the Key, one of the university’s a cappella ensembles.
Zach particularly struggled with the social isolation that came along with the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, and his depression appeared to worsen, his mom said.
On April 11, Zach died from suicide at age 21.
The Cal Poly Police Department first received a report early Monday morning that someone had been found dead near the R-4 parking structure at Poly Canyon Village. The San Luis Obispo County Sheriff-Coroner’s Office was then called in to help with the investigation.
“The world has lost one of its finest much earlier than it should have,” Zach’s obituary reads.
His friends remember the biomedical engineering sophomore as “an amazing singer but even better friend. He had a smile for everyone and so many amazing ideas,” the obituary says.
In lieu of flowers, Zach’s family is asking for donations to the Cal Poly Choirs at www.giving.calpoly.edu.
Zach is survived by his parents, Carey and Susan, and his brothers, Josh and Adam.
Resources for those in need
Cal Poly has resources for students who may need it.
“Students often face challenges and stress that can, over time, begin to feel overwhelming or impossible to cope with,” it’s Campus Health & Wellbeing suicide prevention website says. “We want you to know that there are resources available to help you cope. There is hope, even if you can’t feel it right now.”
To schedule an appointment with campus counseling, call 805-756-2511 and tell the front desk you need to speak to a counselor urgently. After hours, follow the prompts to select “option 2” to speak with a counselor.
You can also go to the counseling office at building 27 on weekdays from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Cal Poly’s Employee Assistance Program provides confidential counseling services to all university employees and their families. To speak with a counselor, call their 24-hour support hotline at 800-367-7474.
If you or someone you know is having thoughts of suicide, the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is a hotline for individuals in crisis or for those looking to help someone else. To speak with a certified listener, call 1-800-273-8255. You can also call the Central Coast Hotline at 800-783-0607 for 24-7 assistance.
To learn the warning signs of suicide, visit suicidepreventionlifeline.org.
This story was originally published April 16, 2022 at 5:00 AM.
