Roy
F.
Zurkowski
October 10, 1929 - November 24, 2010
Born in Chicago, IL
Resided in Bloomfield Hills, MI
Roy Zurkowski was a giant in the Health and Fitness Industry. He turned 81 years old on 10-10-10, but Roy knew from his early days that fitness would be his life. He was the classic example of someone turning a hobby into a successful career. Roy's mission was to get as many people as possible into great physical shape and stay that way. In the 1950's he had a garage full of weights and in 1953 he became Mr. Chicago and later Mr. Illinois.
When a New Yorker by the name of Vic Tanny, an early pioneer in the gym business, overextended opening clubs, Roy and two partners bought a handful of them, and later formed a holding company called Health & Tennis Corporation of America, of which Roy was the CEO. It was in the early 1960's when Roy moved to Detroit to oversee the fitness clubs here. He retained the name Vic Tanny here while the clubs in Chicago were called Chicago Health Clubs. This became the world's largest health and fitness corporation, with more than 380 health clubs.
By 1983 with profitability soaring, Bally Manufacturing Corp. acquired all of the interest in the parent company, and by 1984 all the clubs became Bally Total Fitness. Roy remained as CEO until he retired in 1990.
Roy served on several charitable boards including Best Buddies in Washington, D.C., National Special Olympics, The Beaumont Foundation, the Detroit Institute of Arts and the Michigan Cancer Foundation. Through his generosity he also helped to financially support many fitness facilities at various educational institutions throughout the country. Roy was also a generous donor at Orchard Lake St. Mary's College.
He was a veteran of the United States Army, and an avid golfer and tennis player.
Beloved former husband of Lucia. Dear brother of Patricia Zurkowski (John Morrell) and Dan Zurk (Romayne). Also one niece and one nephew, and four great nieces and nephews. Roy had many devoted people caring for him, including his secretary Janice Broniak, friend Kris Langlands, caregivers Patricia Long, Betsy Pope Takisha Rhimes and long time valuable and devoted employee Rick Murphy and also Doug "Duglass" Grech.
Family will receive friends at A.J. Desmond & Sons (Vasu, Rodgers & Connell Chapel) 32515 Woodward Ave., (btwn 13-14 Mile) Tuesday 3-8pm. Scripture Service 7pm.
Funeral Mass Wednesday, 11am at St. Thomas More, 4580 Adams Rd., Troy.
When a New Yorker by the name of Vic Tanny, an early pioneer in the gym business, overextended opening clubs, Roy and two partners bought a handful of them, and later formed a holding company called Health & Tennis Corporation of America, of which Roy was the CEO. It was in the early 1960's when Roy moved to Detroit to oversee the fitness clubs here. He retained the name Vic Tanny here while the clubs in Chicago were called Chicago Health Clubs. This became the world's largest health and fitness corporation, with more than 380 health clubs.
By 1983 with profitability soaring, Bally Manufacturing Corp. acquired all of the interest in the parent company, and by 1984 all the clubs became Bally Total Fitness. Roy remained as CEO until he retired in 1990.
Roy served on several charitable boards including Best Buddies in Washington, D.C., National Special Olympics, The Beaumont Foundation, the Detroit Institute of Arts and the Michigan Cancer Foundation. Through his generosity he also helped to financially support many fitness facilities at various educational institutions throughout the country. Roy was also a generous donor at Orchard Lake St. Mary's College.
He was a veteran of the United States Army, and an avid golfer and tennis player.
Beloved former husband of Lucia. Dear brother of Patricia Zurkowski (John Morrell) and Dan Zurk (Romayne). Also one niece and one nephew, and four great nieces and nephews. Roy had many devoted people caring for him, including his secretary Janice Broniak, friend Kris Langlands, caregivers Patricia Long, Betsy Pope Takisha Rhimes and long time valuable and devoted employee Rick Murphy and also Doug "Duglass" Grech.
Family will receive friends at A.J. Desmond & Sons (Vasu, Rodgers & Connell Chapel) 32515 Woodward Ave., (btwn 13-14 Mile) Tuesday 3-8pm. Scripture Service 7pm.
Funeral Mass Wednesday, 11am at St. Thomas More, 4580 Adams Rd., Troy.
Visitation
A.J. Desmond & Sons (Vasu, Rodgers & Connell Chapel)
32515 Woodward Ave.
Royal Oak, MI US 48073
Royal Oak, MI US 48073
Scripture Service 7pm
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Funeral Mass
St. Thomas More Church
4580 North Adams Road
Troy, MI US 48098
Troy, MI US 48098
The family has not specified a charity
