Retired Rutgers professor, avid outdoorsman, photographer and SCC Member since 1980

“Nature is the origin of everything we consider beautiful. Nothing sharpens the mind and gives relief from the pressures of our high-velocity society than a walk in the woods or a quiet paddle in a lake among the birds, beavers and water lilies. The natural world is the real world; it is sometimes cruel, but it always provides stimulation for our senses and inspiration for our creativity.” – Joel Zatz

Metuchen resident Dr. Joel Leon Zatz died on Tuesday, July 14, 2020. He was born in 1935 to Abraham and Gussie Zatz. After marrying Arline Zatz in 1956, he served in the Army, then attained a PhD from Columbia University.

He was on the Rutgers faculty for 35 years, chairing the pharmaceutics department for three terms while supervising numerous graduate students.

Dr. Zatz presented short courses internationally, wrote the popular and highly regarded Pharmaceutical Calculations and many scientific articles, and patented a safer ampoule. After retirement, he was a renowned consultant and expert witness.

With author Arline Zatz, his wife of 64 years, he was an avid outdoorsman, traveller, and photographer whose photos appear nationwide in books and magazines. His photo gallery is at ecofocus.com.

Joel leaves his wife, Arline; two sons, Dr. Robert Zatz and Dr. David Zatz; and his beloved grandchildren, Zoe and Benjamin Zatz. A memorial service will be held at the gravesite at Mt. Moriah in Fairview, N.J., at 2 p.m., today (Thursday). Donations can be made to the Sierra Club in lieu of flowers.