We were saddened to learn that long-time Miami-based Variety stringer, Jack Zink, recently passed away. Variety ran the following obit on August 18:
Entertainment writer Jack Zink, longtime Florida correspondent for Variety and writer and editor for several Florida newspapers, died Monday of cancer in Ft. Lauderdale, FL. He was 61.
Most recently Zink was theater and classical music critic and cultural affairs writer for the South Florida Sun-Sentinel. He was also an editor, columnist, critic and reporter for papers including the Miami Herald, the Palm Beach Post & Evening Times and the Fort Lauderdale News.
Zink’s reporting on arts issues such as the Broward Center for the Performing Arts and the Florida Entertainment Commission was integral in focusing public attention to the orgs. For Variety, he served as South Florida bureau chief from 1977 to 1995 and contributed theater reviews and news stories.
In addition to his writing career, he founded of the Carbonell Awards to honor artists in South Florida and served as president of the Foundation of American Theater Critics.
Born in Lorain, Ohio, Zink graduated Ohio State U., before leaving for Florida, where his first job was as arts editor of the Miami Herald.
He is survived by his wife Cynthia, a son, a daughter, three brothers and two sisters.
A memorial service will be held Monday, Aug. 25 at 3 p.m. at the Parker Playhouse, 707 N.E. Eighth St., Ft. Lauderdale.
Donations may be made to the Carbonell Awards at Carbonell Awards Inc., P.O. Box 14211, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33302-4211.