Rachel Campbell Zorn

MADISON - Rachel Campbell Zorn, age 36, of Madison, WI, passed away at Agrace HospiceCare on January 8, 2025, from metastatic ocular melanoma. She was born June 3, 1988, to Rebecca A. Campbell and James E. Zorn in Ashland, WI.

Rachel’s intrepid spirit was apparent within her first six months, physically and intellectually testing (and defeating) the various means her family devised to keep her from wandering Chapple Avenue. Later in her youth, she channeled those talents into gymnastics, violin, skiing, snowboarding, and academic excellence. She graduated from Ashland High School in 2006.

She was a proud 2011 graduate of the University of Wisconsin-Madison, where she earned a BA in Biology with certificates in African Studies and Gender and Women’s Studies, and made lifelong friends. Rachel studied abroad in Kenya, working to better connect marginalized communities with HIV services. Improving healthcare for underserved populations would prove to be a driving academic and professional interest throughout her life. She also met a guy named Karthik Bala during a long layover in the Memphis International Airport coming back to Madison; we’ll come back to him shortly.

Rachel entered the Peace Corps in 2012, serving two years in Senegal. There, she worked in three languages-French, Pulaar, and Wolof-to improve malaria prevention and treatment services in remote areas of Senegal and to train incoming Peace Corps volunteers. On returning from service in 2014, Rachel was diagnosed with and treated for ocular melanoma shortly before she began her graduate studies.

Rachel earned a Master of Public Health in 2016 from Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, CT. Rachel earned multiple honors for her leadership, innovation, and academic excellence on her way to earning her Master of Public Health despite losing her right eye to her disease in 2015. She did not miss a beat and completed her program on schedule with the rest of her cohort, while also teaching and serving as Executive Director of the HAVEN Free Clinic.

Rachel became a devoted leader who dedicated her career in healthcare technology to improving patient care and advancing health equity on both local and global scales. Her work was guided by her dedication to collaboration, pursuit of excellence, and a tireless commitment to improving the lives of others.

And that guy Karthik? He became the love of her life. They got a dog, Mabel, and they bought a house. They married on August 15, 2020, in Washburn, WI, on a dock on her beloved Lake Superior, and re-celebrated with a Hindu ceremony in Madison on September 2, 2021. Rachel gave birth in Madison to their son Luka Zorn Bala in May 2022.

Rachel’s life-of love, motherhood, generosity, adventures, plans, and family and friendships-was in full swing when her disease metastasized in August 2023. The efforts of her devoted care team helped her have another 16 months. Rachel filled that time up with as much love as possible for Luka, for her family and friends, and with experiences (including the Eras Tour). Her generosity never stopped. We are grateful for one last Christmas with Rachel and the opportunity to say our goodbyes. She leaves us with the feeling that we should seize the day: make the trip, see the friends, take the risk. She is loved and she is missed.

Rachel is survived by her husband Karthik and son Luka of Madison; parents Jim and Becky of Ashland; brother Graham C. Zorn (Erika Kranz) and niece Fiona Kranz Zorn of Cumberland, ME; maternal grandmother Joan B. Campbell (David Krumboltz) of Excelsior, MN; parents-in-law Bala and Malini Balashanmugam of Foster City, CA; sister-in-law Aarthi (David) Vinca, nephew Devin Vinca, and niece Nyla Vinca of Burlingame, CA; and many aunts, uncles, cousins, and friends as good as family throughout the country.

A celebration of Rachel’s life will be held at THE TINSMITH, 828 E. Main St., Madison, from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. on Saturday, January 18, 2025. The family will receive guests from 10 a.m. until 11 a.m. and a time of remembrance will begin at 11 a.m.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial contributions be made to a fund dedicated to the education and experiences that Rachel wanted for Luka. More details can be found on Rachel’s CaringBridge site and on the website for Gunderson East Funeral and Cremation Care in Madison. Memorials checks may be made out to Luka Bala, c/o Gunderson Funeral Home, 5203 Monona Drive, Madison, WI 53716 or to Karthik’s Venmo @Karthik-Bala-1 (verify with digits 6346). No contribution is necessary, but all are deeply appreciated.

Online condolences may be made at www.gundersonfh.com.

Gunderson East
Funeral & Cremation Care
5203 Monona Drive
(608) 221-5420