Obituary of Zackary Forest Gilbert

Zackary Forest Gilbert, 44, died in his Belfast home on September 25, 2021. He was born on November 15, 1976, in Boston, MA, the second son of Suzette Gilbert and Mark Bogardus. His first two years were spent in Appleton, ME, where his parents homesteaded. He later lived in Belfast, attended Belfast schools and graduated from Belfast Area High School in 1995. Zackary was gifted with a personality that commanded attention, and he often filled the room with his presence. He enjoyed sharing his great sense of fun and adventure with others and offered encouragement to others for achieving what they might not think was possible. Zack combined his energy and intensity of focus with his love of sports, becoming an exceptional all-around athlete and valued member of the high school basketball, soccer and track-and-field teams. He loved using his sense of balance to ‘catch air’ in such activities as skateboarding, BMX stunt biking and snowboarding. Zack loved the family dog Rosie and other family pets. He enjoyed cuisine and food preparation, first cooking alongside his mother, later creating delicious and innovative dishes on his own. Zackary traveled as a young man but returned to live in Belfast, where he felt most connected to his home and community. His professional interests included masonry, carpentry, eeling, lobstering, security, food service and road construction. Zackary was a true friend and family member who valued the time he spent with people. He was predeceased by his mother Suzette, father Mark, uncle Bill (Linda) Gilbert and cousin Jeffrey Gilbert. He is survived by his brother Tarik Gilbert, sister Jessica Isakson, brother Jesse Bogardus, sister Astra Bogardus, cousins Skyelar MacLeod, Lydia Crafts, Patrick Gilbert and Eliza Gilbert, family members Careyleah MacLeod and Elaine Isakson, niece Autumn Leighton, uncle Raymond (Patricia) Gilbert, and many other relatives and friends. Zackary’s unexpected death left behind a family bereft and missing his warmth, quirky sense of humor and often unique interpretations of events, as well as close friends missing his enduring support and loyalty. A private memorial gathering is planned. Memorial gifts may be made to the Belfast Soup Kitchen (www.belfastsoupkitchen.org/donate) or the National Alliance on Mental Illness in Maine (www.namimaine.org/donate). Inquiries may be directed to Elaine Isakson at (207)691-6551.