Paul “Doc Z” Zaveruha, age 79, of Coupeville, WA & Boerne, TX passed away Tuesday, Dec. 31, 2024. He was the loving husband of the late Susan (Probert) Zaveruha. He died (due to complications from cancer) at his home with his loving & caring partner & sister: Sandi Russell & Roberta Miller, both by his side.
Paul was born in Bridgeport, Connecticut on Nov 19, 1945. At age seven years old, he & his parents & two brothers moved to Stratford, CT, where he grew up until his 20s. He was the eldest of 2 brothers & 2 sisters and 20 cousins. He met his future wife ice skating at “the pond” (63 years ago at this exact date of his death). He graduated from Notre Dame High School in Stratford; Fairfield University; and Georgetown University Medical School in Wash., D.C. He became a Flight Surgeon in the US Air Force, which lead he & his young family to Mt. Home, ID where he was Honorably Discharged as Lieutenant Colonel after 6 years in the service. In 1981, he moved with his family to Oak Harbor, WA and set up his medical practice, the Surgical Center, in Coupeville, WA.
He had his hands on the Island’s traumas and emergencies thru the Operating Room, Emergency Room & EMS. His life was not only dedicated to his family & friends & colleagues, he also cared for all his patients in his 40+ years covering Whidbey General Hospital (WhidbeyHealth), Island Hospital, Skagit Valley Hospital, Stanwood Clinic, his one year stint at UW Medical Center-Montlake, being the Medical Program Director at Island County EMS, teaching EMS classes throughout the state & in other countries as well. He truly believed in getting immediate impeccable care to trauma victims for their best chances of survival.
He always had his scanners, beepers, house phones & then cell phones on for everyone & anyone in need of his medical expertise & advice at all hours of the day & night. Everyone recognized when he was the lone “Doc” on the island as he would drive around town with his helmet on.
Paul met Sandi a year after his wife’s death (in 2020) and at a time they were both mourning losses. He told his kids often how amazing it was to have Sandi in his life and we agree.
He is survived by his partner: Sandra (Southwell) Russell-Mahoney; and his three loving children: daughter Deborah & her husband Robert Burrus; of Lindale, TX; daughter Cynthia Zaveruha of Scottsdale, AZ; and son Alexander Zaveruha & partner Danaé Hansen of Loomis, CA.; and his twin grandchildren Sydney & Brent Burrus of Lindale, TX. Paul also has two surviving sisters: Roberta & her husband Tom Miller of Stratford, CT & Ann Zaveruha-Stebbins of Leyden, MA; two sisters-in-law Deborah (Simons) Zaveruha of Stratford, CT & Rickeysue Chartier-Zaveruha of Northfield, MA as well as 15 nieces and nephews, 20 cousins, and a huge extended family.
He was predeceased in death by his wife: Susan (Probert) Zaveruha; his parents: Alexander & Katherine (Kearney) Zaveruha; his two brothers: Daniel & Brian Zaveruha; and brother-in-law: Jeffrey Stebbins.
A Memorial Service is planned in Oak Harbor, WA on Saturday March 22nd at 1:00 PM with a reception to follow. Services will be held at the Wallin Stucky Funeral Home.
In lieu of flowers Remembrances may be given in his name to Island County’s Emergency Services at:
ICOM 9-1-1
ATT: Sofia Kohfield
840 SE Barrington Drive, Oak Harbor, WA 98277
360-679-9567 (non-emergency line)
