Zachary W. Miner, of Lunenburg

LUNENBURG — Zachary W. Miner, 46, of Lunenburg, passed away Tuesday morning, June 10, 2026, at UMass Memorial Medical Center in Worcester. Zachary was born in Bath, Maine, to Neill and Mary Ellen Miner, on July 10, 1979, and grew up in Augusta. He earned the rank of Eagle Scout and graduated from Cony High School. He went on to earn his Bachelor of Science in Television and Radio Studies from Ithaca College, and later received his Ph.D. in Sociology from SUNY Albany. Zachary was a professor for the past nine years at Fitchburg State University, where he was active with the Undergraduate Research Council. He was known for his commitment to his students, his off-beat sense of humor, and his emotional intelligence and dependability. His work focused on how people and communities can better care for one another. Before his academic career, Zac earned credits on the mini-series Empire Falls and the feature film In the Bedroom. He also worked for the Center for Inquiry in Buffalo, and volunteered for AmeriCorp’s Bridging the Digital Divide program in rural New Hampshire. Zac is survived by his beloved wife, Marie Guido-Miner, of Lunenburg; his mother, Mary Ellen (Lewis) Miner, of Kensington, Maryland; and his brother, Andrew Miner, his wife, Emily Carrier, and their two children, Ira and Serena, of Potomac, Maryland. Zac will be remembered by his large and varied extended and chosen family, his friends, and everyone he inspired along the way. Among Zac’s superpowers were his generous spirit, warmth and thoughtfulness, sharp insight, and deep love and dedication to his family. Zac had a broad range of interests, including juggling, which lead to him meeting the love of his life at a welcome picnic for graduate students at SUNY Albany. Almost 21 years later they were still devoted to each other, and days before his passing they celebrated their 12th wedding anniversary. They had countless adventures together, large and small, and lived across New York and Massachusetts. A celebration of Zac’s life will be held on June 27. The Anderson Funeral Home, 25 Fitchburg Road, Ayer, is assisting the family with funeral arrangements and will provide more details as they become available. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the American Civil Liberties Union, Southern Poverty Law Center, Doctors Without Borders, or Human Rights Campaign.

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Zachary W. Miner, of Lunenburg

July 10, 1979 - June 10, 2026