R.I.P. Irvin "Zabo" Koszewski

Flex, July, 2009 by Shawn Perine

It's with sadness that we report the passing of Irvin Koszewski at the age of 84. Born August 24,1924, in the Collingswood, New Jersey, Zabo was a student athlete who lettered in numerous sports when he found himself inspired by a photo of Eugen Sandow--considered by many to be the first "true" bodybuilder--to develop his own physique. In addition to winning Mr. New Jersey and Mr. California, he would develop the most renowned set of abdominals in the history of bodybuilding, often grabbing "Best Abs" trophies during his 20-plus-years competitive career.

Throughout the '50s and '60s, Zabo was the epitome of California cool, never seen without a pair of Ray-Bans, slicked back hair and a knowing grin.

Zabo was inducted into Joe Weider's Bodybuilding Hall of Fame in 2007 and honored at last year's Independence Day contest at Muscle Beach in Venice, California, and, as recently as February, he could be seen hitting the weights at Gold's Venice, moving a little slower than in his halcyon days, but putting in full workouts nonetheless.

The entire Weider/AMI family would like to express its deepest condolences to the Koszewski family and to Zabo's extended family of thousands of bodybuilders who were educated, entertained and inspired by him.