By Steffen Klenk
Prior to the advent of computer technology, forty years ago, Pete Zakroff was busy writing short stories about his encounters through life. During the pandemic, with little to do, he began putting his stories together. “I started with twenty-five, and I had a lot more to tell.” Soon, twenty-five became fifty, and before he knew it, there were well over one hundred stories. That’s when Zakroff said “let me stop right now and publish the hundred.”
A few short months later, the Ocean City resident published his first book of memoirs, titled “101 Tales of a Middle-Class Middle-Child.” The book looks at some of his life’s experiences told through humor and lessons.
Zakroff grew up in Philadelphia’s West Oak Lane. As a young kid, he was inspired by the stories of Will Rogers and his common-sense approach to life. During his teenage years, he was influenced by several late comedians, from Dave Barry to the legendary George Carlin. Zakroff says it wasn’t just for his comedy, but his storytelling. “He could spin a story and make you laugh and blush at the same time.”
For many years, Zakroff watched Andy Rooney’s wit and sense of humor on the CBS News Magazine show “60 Minutes.” It was upon pursuing a career in journalism at Temple University that Pete learned that the best writers wrote about what they knew.
Over the years, Zakroff has published several “how-to” articles for various publications, focusing on specialized audiences in industry, business, labor and education. From writing sales presentations, tributes, and training presentations, he has done it all, with a total of over 1,000 presentations covering a wide range of topics.
Pete Zakroff’s magnificent skills came to the test when he pitched an episode of “The Twilight Zone” to the show’s creator Rod Sterling. A few weeks later, he received a letter back from Hollywood, and while his idea was not used, he was given a personalized photo of Sterling and a note of encouragement to continue writing. “I didn’t know about agents at that time, but it was an idea that I had,” Zakroff says.
More than 60 years later, Zakroff assembled some of his own life experiences and self-published his first book of memoirs in September 2020. The book comprises of 101 anacdotal stories beginning from Zakroff’s childhood up to retirement.
His recent memoir, “Another 101 Tales of a Middle-Class Middle-Child”, is an extension of the series. With more life stories and adventures, Zakroff adds to the events that shifted his life, from living and raising a family in South Jersey, to experiencing life in South Carolina, and settling in Ocean City.
Chapter 6 of the book is dedicated entirely to Ocean City. Zakroff recalls the many places, now just memories, including Booker’s and Dairy Queen, along with popular establishments such as Kessel’s Corner at 28th and Asbury. Details of humorous experiences and the many friends he has made in America’s Greatest Family Resort are included in this memoir.
Each chapter includes illustrations that emulate old family photos, carefully created thanks to the help of his daughter, Laura Zakroff. Each illustration is striking to the eye and acts as a pictorial tribute to Pete’s interest in photography. A graduate of the Rhode Island School of Design, she has self-published nearly a dozen books and has received critical acclaim and honors for her creative talents.
Zakroff’s latest memoir is a great mix of humor and nostalgia, providing readers a small trip down memory lane. “Another 101 Tales of a Middle-Class Middle-Child is available for purchase on Amazon, with additional copies available at the Ocean City Library.
Steffen Klenk is a multimedia journalist. He resides in Ocean City and enjoys capturing the eclectic moments of shore life.
