Education
University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee.
University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee.
Born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Zahn received a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee in 1968, with a double major in radio-television and sociology. In 1974, he was awarded a Master of Arts degree in communications from the University of Hawaii in Honolulu. In 1969, Zahn was commissioned as an ensign in the United States. Navy in 1969 and served as an officer in Norfolk to the Commander Carrier Division 2.
He made two deployments to the Mediterranean Sea aboard the United States Ship John F. Kennedy.
Zahn moved to WAVY-television in Portsmouth, Virginia, in 1981 as weekend anchor and reporter. In 1984, he became the 6 p.m. and 11 p.m. co-anchor.
In 1994, he moved to WVEC-television as 5 p.m. and 11 p.m. co-anchor. In 1996, he became the 6 p.m. and 11 p.m. co-anchor.
At WVEC, Zahn produced several documentary programs, including "These Hallowed Sands," produced on the 50th anniversary of Doctorate-Day, and "When the War Came to America," recounting U-Boat attacks on United States. shipping off the coast of Virginia and North Carolina in the early stages of World World War World War II Zahn also taught college-level courses adjunct at four colleges and universities, including Old Dominion University.
He was active in numerous charities, especially the American Society. Zahn was first diagnosed with cancer in the late 1990s. Prior to his diagnosis, he had been active in planning the Hampton Roads area Relay for Life and a supporter of the American Society.
Zahn produced a series of television news stories and a documentary program about his battle with cancer.
The program, which aired on WVEC-television, was entitled "My Race Against " The program chronicled his medical progress and personal ordeal from the time of his diagnosis until his cancer went into remission. At WVEC, Zahn produced two nationally-distributed videos for the American Society encouraging communities to hold Relay for Life events.
Zahn toured the United States to promote Relay for Life and continued his involvement with Relay until his death. At the time of his death, Zahn lived in Chesapeake, Virginia, where he is buried.
He served on the Chesapeake, Portsmouth and Virginia Beach Board of Directors and was a member of the National Advisory Committee for the Society’s main fund-raiser, the Relay for Life.