Zoll, Samuel

Samuel Zoll, much respected and beloved Salem figure, was born on June 20, 1934 and died April 26, 2011 at the age of 76 after a bout with cancer. A son of a Lithuanian immigrant, he rose from a local paperboy to become chief justice for the district court.

"A legendary figure in modern city politics, Zoll is credited with preserving Salem's historic downtown by stopping the steamroller of urban renewal, securing land for Pickering Wharf, taking Winter Island back from the federal government, and spearheading construction of the former Shaughnessy-Kaplan Rehabilitation Hospital" according to Tom Dalton of the Salem News.

After serving on the Salem City Council from 1958-1965, he became Sate representative from 1965-1969,then served as Salem city mayor for the years 1970-73. Then followed his time as District court judge (1973-76), and then District court chief justice (1976-2004). After retiring as judge, he was appointed to be Joint Labor-Management Committee chairman (2004-2010).

He will be remembered for his love of Salem, compassion, and also his sense of humor. He was an avid cycler and swimmer and was active in the Pan-Mass Challenge, a charity bike event.

See Also

• Vertical File in Salem Collection - Zoll, Samuel

• "The most honest person I ever met: City mourns Zoll, a hometown boy who rose to lead district courts" Salem News, Apr. 27, 2011, p.1

• Rough Justice to Due Process: the District Courts of Massachusetts, 1869-2004 Jerome Berg with remarks by Sam Zoll