Mark "The Big Z" Zauderer '67

Publication Date

Attorney, Ganfer, Shore, Leeds & Zauderer LLP

Mark "The Big Z" Zauderer '67

1920 - 2020
|WRUC

celebrates a century

I stood on the shoulders of many others who did the hard work in building the station.

I cut my teeth about 1965, when I started the “Boy from New York City” oldie show with a heavy emphasis on Doo Wop.

My nascent DJ career took an unexpected twist in May 1966, when 50,000 watt WPTR in Albany fired its all-night DJ. They called upon Dick Ferguson to do emergency fill-in. He was unavailable and recommended me.

In October 1966 through June 1967, with a permanent slot on WTRY, I recused myself from doing shows on WRUC.

I began at NYU School of Law in the fall of 1967, thinking I had left my short radio career behind. But I accepted an offer for a Saturday evening DJ slot at WNHC in New Haven, where Dick Ferguson was working in sales.

I have spent almost 50 years in the private practice of law, handling both low- and high- profile matters, but devoting a considerable part of my time to public matters.

In the 90s, a friend digitized a five-CD set of my broadcasts. I kept a set in my car as my son grew up; as a 32 year old adult, he still tries to sound like me. I’m not sure if he is doing that out of admiration or mockery!

In 2007, I was privileged to receive Union’s Eliphalet Nott Award for alumni achievement. Several years ago, I gave the commencement address at Touro Law School and was awarded an honorary doctor of laws degree.

UNION COLLEGE MAGAZINE

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