Page 3 - April 2019

Senior in Action: Irwin Zuc
Senior in Action:
Senior in Action:
Senior in Action: Irwin Zuckkerer
Irwin Zucker
Senior in Action: Irwin ZucIrwin Zuckkerer
by Marilee Marrero Stefenhagan into the Army’s newsletter when given
Talk about a positive thinker! Irwin the opportunity. During the months he
Zucker fits that description perfectly. He edited the newsletter, he interviewed a
works ‘round the clock as a book publicist GI who’d played football at University
at his home-based business, Promotion in of Michigan. This scholar-athlete
Motion. He still drives at age 92, and only impressed Irwin, who then decided to
recently sold his offices in Hollywood. apply to the University of Michigan. U
Irwin says there’s one unanticipated hazard of M accepted his application, and
of working at home - raiding the Irwin enrolled in early 1946. He
refrigerator has led to a little weight gain. graduated in 1948 with a Bachelor’s
He compares his publicist role to a juggler; degree in Journalism.
he hurls books into the air via radio or Irwin hired on at a TV station
television interviews and print media ads, earning $23 a week. From there, he
hoping that sales take off so the books don’t promoted music albums for Decca
fall flat. Always a promoter, Irwin named Records, Billboard magazine, and

Five big reasons for Irwin’s happiness is linked to his five grandchildren.
Left to righ: Max Kilstofte, Mattea Kilstofte, Irwin Zucker, Miles Kilstofte,
Taryn Mjelde, Tanner Mjelde. Irwin quips, “I could not ask for anything more!”

three new books by current clients: 1) 30th other music companies. In 1957, he
Century: Revived by science fiction author talked his twin brother into moving to
Mark Kingston Levin, 2) Better with Age: California, where he set up his own
Psychology of Successful Aging by Alan D. business, Promotion in Motion. Over
Kastel, PhD, and 3) Angels in the Sky: How the course of his career, he transitioned
a Band of Volunteer Airmen Saved the New from promoting records to promoting
State of Israel by Robert Gandt. Just picture books, and has represented almost
those books circling nonstop from Irwin’s 4000 authors. The slogan on his
palms into the air! business card quipped, “We make
Throughout his school years in unknowns out of the stars.”
Brooklyn, NY, Irwin Zucker loved words. Irwin is writing a book about the
He developed a habit continuing to this day many authors he represented, titled
of looking up unfamiliar words in the Greats and Ingrates – and You’re In It!
dictionary. Irwin attended an all-boys’ The first author he publicized was
school, Brooklyn High School. He enjoyed Norman Vincent Peale and his book
the study of linguistics, and learned French The Power of Positive Thinking. Other
and Latin. His parents, Joseph and Yetta clients included Steve Allen, Jacqueline
Zucker, emigrated from Poland. Home- Susann, Dinah Shore, Burl Ives,
cooked meals shared at the table with his Veronica Lake, and Zsa Zsa Gabor. But
parents and five siblings were an old world his all-time favorite author is Helen
tradition continued in the new world. His Gurley Brown, author of Sex and the
parents taught him, “It doesn’t cost Single Girl, who later became Editor-
anything to be nice.” That mantra has been In-Chief of Cosmopolitan magazine.
Irwin’s guiding light. Irwin met his wife Devra in Palm
In 1944, Irwin attended New York Springs. They dated in Los Angeles
University on a scholarship at age 17. and were married on September 1,
However, he was drafted into the U.S. 1957. His genes ultimately led to three
Army a year later. World War II had just generations of twins: his identical twin
ended, and he was sent to Camp Lee, daughters Shari and Judi, and his twin
Virginia for military training. As all grandsons Max and Miles, plus 3 other
soldiers know, “Volunteer for nothing.” grandchildren.
However, Irwin invested his love of words Continued on page 18

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