In Memoriam: Earl Zazove

Earl Zazove

July 20, 1920 - April 4, 2023

Earl Zazove, 102 and ¾ year of age, of Evanston, Illinois, died April 4, 2023, surrounded by family. He was born July 20, 1920, in Chicago, Illinois, to the late Irving and Lillian (nee Wolfe) Zazove. He was the oldest of three siblings. He graduated from Austin High School, Northwestern University and the Chicago Medical School. He did his residency in Brooklyn, New York before starting a general practice near the corner of Higgins and Canfield Streets.

Dr. Zazove married Dr. Louise Tumarkin (a medical school classmate) on November 2, 1947, in Chicago, Illinois. His medical practice, known as the Norwood Medical Center, was extremely successful, with several physicians working for him. In the 1950s, he became certified by the FAA as a flight physician, a new specialty at that time, and became the physician lead for O’Hare Field (a new airport at the time). One of his accomplishments was to help develop the drop-down mask now used on all commercial airplanes during emergencies. He later became one of the first physicians certified by the new specialty of Family Practice, scoring one of the highest scores on the board exam. After twenty-five years of practice he sold the Norwood Medical Center, and retired as a lifelong member of the American Academy of Family Physicians.

In 1972, he began a new career as an investment advisor, establishing Earl Zazove & Associates. The firm was one of the first to specialize in convertible securities. Dr. Zazove co-wrote the first major book on Options. Published by Dow Jones & Company, it sold out several printings. He also wrote several articles on investing. He became nationally renowned and gave multiple lectures across the country on investing and convertible securities. Earl Zazove & Associates grew dramatically, and he sold it in 1990; it has since continued to grow significantly as Zazove Associates.

Dr. Zazove lived in Lincolnwood, Illinois for 54 years before moving to The Mather in Evanston, Illinois where he lived the last 13 years of his life. He remarried in 2016. He is survived by his second wife, Nell Logan; son and daughter-in-law Philip Zazove and Barbara Reed of Pinckney, Michigan; daughter and son-in-law Karen Williamson and Lawrence Russell of Baltimore, Maryland; grandchildren Katherine Jones (Austin, Texas), Samantha Williamson (Baltimore, Maryland), Rebecca Davis (Atlanta, Georgia) and Tess Russell (Los Angeles, California); nine nieces and nephews; and six great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his first wife, Louise Tumarkin and two brothers, Howard and Richard. He was an avid reader, movie buff (at one point having a collection of well over 500 movies), Star Trek fan and science enthusiast. In addition, he will be remembered for his extraordinary ability to play any song on the piano upon hearing the tune.