Sudbury To Honor Late Teen With Annual 'Be Like Zach Day'

SUDBURY, MA — The town is coming together to honor the memory and legacy of a beloved local teenager with a new annual holiday.

The Sudbury Select Board has officially proclaimed May 3 as “Be Like Zach Day,” a communitywide day of kindness and service dedicated to Zach Wall, a Sudbury resident who died in 2021 at age 16 following a 10-and-a-half-month battle with cancer.

The proclamation, signed by Select Board Chair Lisa V. Kouchakdjian on Mar. 10, recognizes Zach’s lasting impact on the community and encourages residents of all ages to reflect his values through acts of compassion, generosity and empathy.

Town officials said the day is intended not only as a memorial, but as an active call to action, inviting community members to perform small acts of kindness in Zach’s honor and carry forward what his family and supporters describe as his “Rules for Life.”

"Zach Wall was a beloved member of the Sudbury community whose life reflected kindness, empathy and a deep commitment to caring for others," the Select Board shared in a news release. "His legacy continues to inspire individuals and communities through the principles known as his Rules for Life."

Those guiding principles include compassion, resilience, generosity, and a commitment to doing good for others—values the Select Board noted help strengthen families, schools, and the broader Sudbury community.

The initiative is closely tied to the work of Zach's Bridge, a nonprofit created in Zach’s memory. The organization supports families facing childhood cancer while also promoting empathy, connection, and service-driven community engagement.

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