Comments on: Irvin ‘Zabo’ Koszewski passes away – RIP

By: Michael Harnish

Michael Harnish — Wed, 13 Oct 2010 02:34:28 +0000

Gary Kubic. April 1973 Cover of Strength * Health? I am looking for any contacts interested in helping Gary. HE told me to try to find Zabo. Well I did and he can’t help. He is ill and I am trying to find family or friends that can help him. Please e-mail me ASAP.

By: howard hankin

howard hankin — Wed, 06 Jan 2010 00:55:27 +0000

just out of navy 1964, went to work out at the dungen basment in santa monica, ca watched zabo do push ups with 75 pound weight on his middle back, w\ tired out a body builder named mike dadigan, 20 yrs younger, he was a lady’s man, and a nice guy.

By: John H. "Jack" Price

John H. "Jack" Price — Sun, 31 May 2009 16:46:03 +0000

I had the pleasure of training with Zabe at the Camden, New Jersey YMCA, along with Joe Berg, Henry Struszewski, Ed Gloway, Jim Leason and others whose names I’ve forgotten. I also enjoyed having an occasional beer and a game of darts with Zabe at a little bar around the corner from the Y.
Noone ever worked harder or deserved success more!
I hope they have a body builders’ gym in Heaven.

By: One who saw

One who saw — Tue, 21 Apr 2009 05:35:02 +0000

When Ivan walked doing the walk at Muscle Beach wearing a whit e sleeveless under shirt his build was a show stopper. People would look, Zabo was cool, calm and understated with out the need to get huge lats to exude the greatness of being.

By: anonymus

anonymus — Tue, 21 Apr 2009 05:27:38 +0000

When Zabo walked down the Ocean Front Walk along Muscle Beach, tan in a sleeveless white shirt it was an image of self confidence, composed, understated, undiminished greatness of a person. He showed us that a great build can be with out the lats, and what a funny wry sense of humor.

By: Jack Douglass

Jack Douglass — Mon, 20 Apr 2009 00:24:03 +0000

I just got a call from my good Friend Ron Packham “Frenchie” I met Ron working on a Pilot in California many years ago. I also met Zabo when I was standing in on a TV show (1985) called “At Ease” I was getting dressed in a trailer on location and this really tan older guy next to me pulls his pants off and I saw his legs and said what up with the muscles dude (I’m 24 & Zabo is 63) and he said in his very mellow way, ah I work out a bit. I became good Friends with Zabo and Frenchie and would go to Zabo’s pad in Santa Monica and listen to all of his amazing stories about how he traveled with Mae West in a Vaudeville act and I learned how he helped Joe Gold start his Gym. Frenchie was here from Thiland a few months back and we were trying to find Zabo’s address with is daughter in New Jersey so we could take a trip up and see him ( I live in Maryland) but we couldn’t find him and the he went back to Cal. Ron Packham kept asking if we could go up to NJ ans see someone named Charlie, was that you? Zabo was one in a million, He was loved by many. More than i’m sorry that he’s gone I’d rather say that it was great to have known him

By: Jon Fledderjohann

Jon Fledderjohann — Fri, 10 Apr 2009 19:55:27 +0000

The passing of Zabo represents another, sad loss, and the fading away of the old Muscle Beach scene. I remember watching him work his abs for a half an hour each day in Joe Gold’s old World Gym on Brooks and Pacific in Venice.

By: Dolores Pitts

Dolores Pitts — Thu, 02 Apr 2009 23:55:28 +0000

I knew the handsome Zabo for many years from woking out at the old World Gym and new gym in Venice, always watching him work those abs. He was a treasure to know and funny in his own curmudgeon way. I am deeply sorry for his loss.

By: charles fautz

charles fautz — Wed, 01 Apr 2009 03:39:56 +0000

I have known zabo for over 40 years. worked out together in the original Golds Gym on Pacific ave. Venice. I also am from New Jersey,and was AAU Mr.New Jersey 1965 and won the Mr Middle Atlantic AAU Senior Title in 1967.Nice to have won the same titles. I am sadend by his passing.
Charlie Fautz