Bennie Zak, Ph.D., a WSU professor of pathology who retired in 1990, died July 29. He was 85.

Dr. Zak was an internationally renowned clinical chemist, especially in the area of lipid analysis and spectrophotometry. He had the rare honor of having two of his research papers recognized as citation classics by Current Contents.

As an educator, Dr. Zak helped develop courses in clinical chemistry and instrumentation that were a vital part of the graduate curriculum. He completed both his bachelor's and doctorate degrees at WSU after serving as an officer in the Air Force during World War II. He was a prisoner of war for 15 months after being shot down over Germany.

Dr. Zak, who spent his entire career at WSU, was awarded the School of Medicine's Distinguished Service Award in 1983. He also received the Ames Award of the American Association of Clinical Chemists and the Faculty Research Award of Sigma Xi at Wayne State University.

Dr. Zak is survived by his wife of nearly 59 years, Doris Zak; son and daughter-in-law, Steven and Jackie Zak of Sunland, Calif.; daughters and son-in-law, Deborah Zak and Tom Tataranowicz of Malibu, Calif., Dr. Marsha Zak of Redlands, Calif.; sister and brother-in-law, Sarah and David Score of Pleasant Hills, Calif.

Contributions may be made to Women's American ORT, 6735 Telegraph Road, Suite 150, Bloomfield Hills, Mich., 48301, or to a charity of one's choice.