Hank Zelavich


Hank, “The Voice”, has been living at The Pointe for about 4 and half years. Because of his deep, melodic voice, Hank is often asked to deliver the message during prayer hour and read out trivia questions during activities. He could give James Earl Jones a run for his money!

Born of Yugoslavian parents, from Austria/Hungary, Hank grew up on the south side of Chicago. His father, after coming to the United States, went to Oregon and worked in the saw mills. He met his wife after moving to Chicago. Other than a 2 year enlistment with the Marines in Washington D.C., Hank has remained in the Chicago area. Early on, Hank learned lettering and type setting and found several jobs where he could use his skills. After his enlistment with the Marines, Hank used his G.I. Bill to attend Loyola University, off and on, for several years. As a liberal arts student with a strong Christian belief, he was drawn to reading and philosophy, with a strong interest in cosmology (The metaphysical theories of origin, structure and time/space relationships of the universe). To this day, Hank makes several trips a week to the local library to read the latest books on space exploration. Hank’s close ties with the Franciscan brothers, helped to guide him through his life. He still attends retreats and enjoys discussing philosophy.

Hank retired in 1989 when he was laid off from a Civil Engineering company that he worked at for many years. His love of typesetting and printing, kept him in his initial field throughout his working life. Hank loved that job and found it very exciting and interesting. He remembers when the copiers became electronic and has even returned to the company to see the new computers they use today. Hank still recalls, in great detail, the process of laying type over engineers electrical design drawings. It’s easy to forget today that all the drawings and type were done by hand. Making a mistake, would result in hours of lost time. Not one to live in the past, Hank found the computers and new printing system just as fascinating as he did the original ways.

The next time you visit The Pointe, keep an eye, or an ear, out for Hank. (You will probably hear him before you see him) At times he is quietly lost in thought, at others, his booming voice resonates through the halls as he reads aloud a story or a poem to a group of his peers. Whether it be Robert Frost or quasars and space travel, you want to hear what Hank has to say.