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Matthew Zack Obituary
On Saturday, July 31, 2021, Matthew Marion Zack Jr., a dear friend and colleague to many, died of pancreatic cancer at age 76. He was preceded in death by his father, Matthew M. Zack Sr., mother, Ellen Dolores (Kulba) Zack, and brother, John M. Zack. He is survived by a special cousin, Judy Ann (Zack) Dougherty, in Syracuse, NY and other family and friends in several states.
Matt was born in Monterey, California and raised in Syracuse (NY), graduating from Christian Brothers Academy (1963) and Canisius College (1967), earned an MD at SUNY Syracuse (1971), trained in internal medicine at the University of Pennsylvania Hospital (1971-1974), and earned an MPH at the UC-Berkeley School of Public Health (1978). He joined the Epidemic Intelligence Service at the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) in 1974 and worked at CDC until his death.
Dr. Zack was one of the CDC's foremost authorities on medicine, epidemiology, biostatistics and statistical programming; was a consultant to many other federal and state agencies and outside groups: and published well over 150 studies in scientific journals.
In 2009, Dr. Zack was awarded the CDC's National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention & Health Promotion (NCCDPHP) Lifetime Scientific Achievement Award for his important contributions to the CDC's Cancer, Aging Studies, Health-Related Quality of Life, and Epilepsy Programs and public health more generally.
Dr. Zack was a dedicated public servant, physician, mentor and friend, always willing to share his medical and scientific acumen with colleagues, friends and family. Dr. Zack often closed notes to colleagues with "Do good". He will be deeply missed. A celebration of life is planned. Contact: Chad Helmick, [email protected]. See full obit & leave condolences at Fischer Funeral Care:
www.fischerperimeterchapel.com/obituary/Matthew-ZackJrMDMPH
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Memories and Condolences
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David Rodriguez, MD
January 2, 2022
I first met Matthew in 1967 during our first year of med school in Syracuse, NY. I was a brash kid from Manhattan and he was an old man in a young man´s body. For that reason, I always called him Mr. Matthew. He was so kind and giving and in NYC we hardly ever met someone like him. He taught me the meaning of kindness. My favorite story of Mr. Matthew involves an incident that occurred several days before a very important biochemistry exam. While everyone was studying like crazy I saw him walking around the library with his usual calmness obviously researching some esoteric subject. The next day I went to his room and asked him what was he doing in the library. He calmly explained to me that he understood the beta helix but he was somewhat puzzled about the alpha helix and was unable to find anything in the literature that was of help. He said he wrote to Linus Pauling to see if he would clarify the questions he had. I thought he was crazy and told him so. Writing to a Nobel laureate. Really. He wont give you the time of day. Several weeks later, I asked him about it. Again in that calm, composed, demeanor he always had he said I got a response. There in my hand I held a handwritten letter from Dr. Linus Pauling explaining to Matthew the alpha helix. I never forgot the first sentence. It began --When I first discovered the alpha helix. Who but Mr. Matthew would ever consider writing to Pauling. Although I only knew him for four years he impacted my life for the better in so many ways. Rest In Peace my friend. David
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