Sun Sentinel Theater Critic Jack Zink Is Dead

Jack Zink, the Sun Sentinel's voice of theater and the arts for nearly four decades, died Monday morning of complications from cancer. He was 61.While Mr. Zink served as drama critic and cultural affairs writer from 1985 until he left the paper in July, his career included all three major South Florida papers - and a universe of entertainment news assignments.

Variety, the entertainment industry bible for so many years, wrote in 1975: "Jack Zink is now the Fort Lauderdale News Entertainment Editor -- and also film critic, rock expert, music critic, theater writer, and columnist. In his spare time Zink lays out seven daily amusement and TV pages and is the sole editor of the 72-page Showtime section." Variety must have been impressed - they hired him as a freelance correspondent two years later.

Mr. Zink's work extended well beyond the newsroom. In 1976, he founded the annual Carbonell awards. Modeled after Broadway's Tony awards, the regional theater honors program brought new recognition and solidarity to the South Florida arts community. International stars such as Carol Channing and Chita Rivera have appeared at its annual celebration. The Carbonell organization awards thousands of dollars in scholarships each year to aspiring arts students.