Canyon Ranch founder, public health advocate Mel Zuckerman dies at 94

TUCSON, Ariz. (KGUN) — Public health advocate and Canyon Ranch founder Mel Zuckerman passed away Saturday at the age of 94, the University of Arizona announced.

KGUN 9’s Ryan Fish spoke with his good friend, former U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Richard Carmona. He says Zuckerman lived an extraordinary life and had an extraordinary impact in Tucson.

“Mel was a visionary. And he was a restless visionary,” Carmona said, declaring that Zuckerman “saw the future” 40 years ago.

“Much of what we talk about today in health and wellness and destination resorts for health and wellness… you know he really is one of the iconic figures that created that whole marketplace,” Carmona added.

Zuckerman turned his own health struggles into a strength for himself and others by founding Canyon Ranch on Tucson’s east side. After his time as Surgeon General, Carmona worked with Zuckerman to build the wellness resort into an iconic worldwide brand.

“Nutrition, physical activity, people will help you improve your performance,” Carmona said, describing the resort. “Whether you’re a senior citizen or you’re an athlete. So there’s something there for everybody and it’s a very nice environment, a very comfortable environment, a very safe environment as well.”

Carmona is also a laureate professor at the University of Arizona, where Zuckerman and his wife Enid founded and funded the southwest’s first accredited College of Public Health—the Mel and Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health.

The couple created a $10 million endowment that led to the establishment of the school in 2000. Carmona says their philanthropic efforts stretched beyond the school as well.

“It was education, other types of philanthropy. I mean, he’s touched every part of this community in one way or another, and most importantly in health and wellness, which was his passion,” he said.

The university says Zuckerman died surrounded by family at his home.