Former Associated Alumni of Central High School President Dr. H. Michael Zal (210) died on Friday, AACHS board member Alan Budman (229) advises.
Dr. Zal served as president of the board from 1991 to 1993. He was also Program, Scholarship and Hall of Fame chairman.
Dr. Zal was a psychiatrist for over 40 years. He was the author of five books and a clinical professor in the Department of Psychiatry at the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine. He was a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania and PCOM.
Dr. Zal received the Albert Einstein Healthcare Foundation Physicians’ Award for Excellence and the Practitioner of the Year Award from the Philadelphia Psychiatric Society for outstanding character, dedication and commitment to patient care, Mr. Budman says.
He was a lecturer, medical writer and editor on mental-health topics, with numerous published articles to his credit. He was the winner of the Eric W. Martin Memorial Award, presented by the American Medical Writers Association for outstanding writing and the Frances Larson Memorial Award for excellence.
In 2013, The Times Herald of Montgomery County did an interview with Dr. Zal on generalized anxiety disorder.
The funeral will be at Tiferet Bet Israel, 1920 W. Skippack Pike, Blue Bell, Pa., 19422, on Sunday Dec. 18 at 1:00 pm. Shiva will be observed at the late residence at 216 Goldenrod Drive, Lansdale, Pa., 19446, through Thursday evening.
He leaves behind his wife, Dr. Alice Zal, children and grandchildren.
