David SZABO

SZABO, David Andrew 70, died Feb. 22, 2017, after an extended illness. The only child of Eleanor and Andrew Szabo, he was born and raised in Middletown, Ohio, where he studied classical piano, developed his skill in photography and subsequently studied architecture at Miami of Ohio University. He moved to Chicago, where he completed a film degree at Columbia College in 1970. His early career as a freelance editor included work with Sedelmaier Films and Kartemquin Films, among others, and a teaching position in the film department at Columbia College. Szabo Editing was founded in 1975 at 612 North Michigan Avenue where he soon was joined by Jack Tohtz as partner. By 1989 the company became Szabo-Tohtz and Skyview, with the expansion to a full-service post-production company in the Time-Life Building. An accomplished musician, Szabo also established Szabo Productions during this period to create music for commercials he edited. Szabo's client roster included all the major ad agencies of the day--Foote, Cone and Belding, Leo Burnett, DDB Needham, and J. Walter Thompson, among others. He worked on national advertising campaigns for Coca Cola, United Airlines, Kraft, Kellogg's, MacDonald's, Budweiser, Wrangler, and Hallmark- to name a few. Among his many longer-form projects were the PBS films, "Come Along with Me", "Our Children's War", and several documentaries for the History Channel. David Szabo's awards include a first-place Hugo Award, Clios and Addys for commercials edited as well as awards for industrial, corporate and documentary films. He was honored with an International Broadcast Network Award as 'Best Commercial International' for Blue Cross Blue Shield spot. He is survived by his wife of 27 years, Alida Szabo, a theater arts professional at Chicago Shakespeare Theater. A private service is being planned for springtime in Chicago. Memorial donations may be made to: www.chicagofilmarchives.org or Kartemquin Films, 773-472-4366.