Zachary M. Mikaya

Zachary M. Mikaya, 30, of Athens., PA passed away suddenly in Salvador, Brazil, on Tuesday, December 12, 2023.

He was born on October 11, 1993, in Sayre, PA, the son of Dr. Martin L. and Claudia C. (Cole) Mikaya.

A 2012 graduate of AAHS, Zachary was an academically talented student who was also active in the sports and FBLA programs of the school. In FBLA, he won national awards in cybersecurity, computer networking, and personal finance. He went on to graduate from MIT with a B.S. degree in computer science in 2016. While at MIT, Zachary and several friends invented an automatic scoliosis brace called Sleeptight and helped collect data on the Mars robotic rover for NASA and ran an SAT preparation course. He planned to pursue his real passion, entrepreneurship, but the plan was disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2019, he began working as a software engineer for Ontario Systems, LLC.

Since he could work online, Zachary decided to temporarily relocate to Salvador, Brazil, a tropical paradise of sorts, in October 2022. He continued to live and work there until his untimely death ten days ago.

He is predeceased by his maternal grandparents C. Earl and Phyllis Cole, and paternal grandparents Rev. Mikaya Laku and Marata Lasu.

Zachary is survived by his parents Dr. Martin L. and Claudia Mikaya, brother and sister-in-law Christopher and Sarah Mikaya, niece Amelia Mikaya, nephew Asher Mikaya, also companion Fernanda Castro, and aunts, uncles, and cousins.

A funeral service is scheduled for 1PM EST on Saturday, December 30, 2023, at the Federated Church, Corner of Church and Main Streets, East Smithfield, Pennsylvania, U.S.A.

Interment will follow at the nearby Union Cemetery immediately after the service.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Zachary’s name to support the FBLA program at the Athens Area High School, 100 Canal Street, Athens, PA 18810.

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