THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Tuesday, November 14, 1995 TAG: 9511140096
SECTION: FRONT PAGE: A1 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY MIKE MATHER, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: VIRGINIA BEACH LENGTH: Medium: 73 lines
Joe Zajac wondered if what the six young girls were learning Monday would have helped his young daughter.
He wondered if the snapping punches they practiced in the martial arts studio would have helped Amber Zajac escape the man who raped and strangled her as she walked home from a friend's house Aug. 8.
``I have no idea if it would have helped her or not,'' Zajac said. ``But it wouldn't have hurt her in the situation she was in.''
The six teenage girls were all friends of Amber's. And now they were learning to protect themselves as the first recipients of an unusual scholarship in Amber's memory - the Amber Marie Zajac Self Defense Fund.
Monday was their first class in tae kwon do, a Korean martial art.
``I want to be able to defend myself and not be afraid,'' Tara Williams, 17, said.
``And if I do get afraid, I still want to know what to do. I wish (Amber) could have done this, too, so it wouldn't have happened to her.''
No one is charged in the teen's death. Police had arrested one man, but lab tests cleared him and he was released from jail.
Detectives also have a second suspect, but lab results needed to determine his role in the crime haven't been completed.
In the months after Amber's death, Joe Zajac was inundated with donations from neighbors and friends.
``I put the funds aside to do something in Amber's honor,'' he said. ``And with the circumstances of Amber's death, this seemed like a good use of those funds.''
The funds are paying for six months of lessons for Amber's six teen friends and two younger girls the Ocean Lakes High School student knew.
If the girls remain interested in the class after six months, the scholarship will pay for another six months of instruction.
If donations remain steady, Joe Zajac said, the fund will pay for self-defense lessons for another eight girls next year.
``I thought it was fun,'' Jossie Fernandez, 17, said after the first class. ``I think I can get used to it. It's important that if I get into a situation like my best friend was in, then I want to be able to defend myself.
``I have always wanted to come here, and now I have a reason.''
``I came here for Amber,'' said Jossie's twin sister, Jackie. ``I want to do this in memory of her.''
The classes are being taught at Gagniers' Taekwondo on General Booth Boulevard. Frank Gagnier offered lessons at a substantial discount so the fund could be used to teach more girls.
He said his classes will build the girls' confidence as they learn to take care of themselves. He said he and his instructors also teach how to avoid situations that lead to assaults.
``He stresses staying out of the situation in the first place,'' Zajac said.
``I want them to keep themselves out of those situations, but if they are in them, I want them to have the confidence to handle it.'' MEMO: Anyone who wishes to donate money to the scholarship can mail checks
payable to the Amber Marie Zajac Self Defense Fund, 1555 Hummingbird
Lane, Virginia Beach, Va. 23454.
ILLUSTRATION: Amber Zajac
[Color Photo]
JIM WALKER
The Virginian-Pilot
Joe Zajac and two other parents watch the progess of the first-time
martial arts students.
by CNB