Zachary Ruth, 28, Founder of "Common Effect"

Zachary Matthew Ruth, 28, of Reston, died on Aug. 1 after a catastrophic medical episode on July 30.

Zak was the a drummer and founding member of the rock band "Common Effect."

"His joy, love for life, intelligence, smile, laugh, generosity and compassion were limitless, tempered only by his lengthy struggle with terrible, physical pain for which the medical world was unable to find a solution," his family said in this obituary on the Money & King Funeral Home site. "He is with God now, having contributed to this world in so many ways in an effort to help those he loved and cared for to the best of his ability. May he rest in joyous, eternal peace, forever pain free. If only all mankind could be so sincerely loving and caring as Zak was for his short span of 28 years."

He is survived by his loving parents, Mr. and Mrs. Thomas A. Ruth II, and brothers CAPT Michael S. Ruth, USN, and Eric A. Ruth; Mike's wife Katherine M. Ruth; his nephews Samuel A. and Wesley H. Ruth; Eric's wife Camelia Herndon and step daughters Hana and Heather; also, his grandfather CDR Wesley H. Ruth USN (Ret.), and aunt Mary Ann Ruth.
 
Services were held on the morning of Aug. 8 at St. John Neumann Church in Reston.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Children's National Medical Center, 801 Roeder Rd. Suite 650, Silver Spring, MD 20910 in Memo: Zachary Matthew Ruth.