Bartell Zachry, the scion of an international engineering and construction powerhouse who quietly served for decades as a sought-after community leader, died Wednesday at the age of 86 after a long battle with multiple system atrophy, surrounded by Mollie Steves Zachry, his wife of 60 years, his four children, and numerous other family members.
The family established the Bartell Zachry Memorial Endowment for Research in Neurodegenerative Diseases, a permanent endowment at The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio. The family has asked that gifts in Bartell’s memory be directed to the endowment, 7703 Floyd Curl Drive, Mail Code 7835, San Antonio, Texas 78229-3900.
“I think much of what animated Bartell was a natural curiosity about why things are the way they are. That curiosity and his analytical approach to complex problem solving were components of a formidable intellect,” said Dr. William Henrich, president of UT Health San Antonio.