Roy F. Zurkowski was one of the lucky few in the world who was able to make millions off precisely what made him most happy: fitness. In the ’80s, Mr. Zurkowski became one of the original iron-pumping kingpins, cashing in on the wave of Regan-era health consciousness sweeping the nation. By 1983 all his clubs were purchased by Bally Manufacturing Corp, thus beginning the Bally empire.
Mr. Zurkowski passed away in November 2010, leaving behind a gym-sized home at the Sherry Netherland. That co-op has just sold for $7.1 million, city records show.
We called Mr. Zurkowski’s Michigan-based lawyer, Donald Pierce, to learn more about the apartment. Could he possibly share some details? “Not having seen a lot of multi-million-dollar New York apartments, I don’t know what might distinguish this one form the others,” he said. While at first thinking Mr. Pierce was waxing Midwest naivete, it turns out the co-op is pretty standard Fifth Avenue fare.
The listing brokers, Meredyth Smith and Serena Boardman of Sotheby’s do little to differentiate the two-bedroom, four-bath space from similar up-market uptown homes. “A private elevator landing leads into a gracious Foyer flanked by a wood paneled Library and Bath with views of the Park and a magnificent corner Living Room with fireplace.” In short, the basic trappings of every seven-figure Lennox Hill pad.
Accompanying photos and a floorplan show a checkered marble floor in the foyer, a dressing room in the master suite, and walk-in closets scattered throughout the space. We asked Mr. Pierce if Zurkoswki had outfitted his apartment with prized fitness equipment. “No, it was very typical, like all the other ones in the multimillion dollar category,” he said, sounding as jaded as an haute-living local.
The property was purchased anonymously through Seagull’s Path LLC.
eknutsen@observer.com
