Herman Tarnower
Encyclopedia
Herman Tarnower was a cardiologist and the author (with Samm Sinclair Baker
) of the bestselling diet book The Complete Scarsdale Medical Diet
. He was shot to death in 1980 by Jean Harris
, who was convicted of his murder after a three-month trial in White Plains
in 1981.
, becoming a medical doctor specializing in cardiology
.
Tarnower established a cardiology
practice in the Scarsdale and White Plains areas of New York. During World War II
he joined the US Military Corps and was promoted to major. After the war, he founded the Scarsdale Medical Center and was highly regarded among his colleagues and patients. He was a relentless social climber who held elaborate dinner parties and cultivated a circle of wealthy friends and patients.
Friends from the publishing world suggested to Tarnower that he write a book documenting the diet he recommended to his patients. The basic nutritional philosophy of cutting down on carbohydrates, eating plenty of oily fish
, lean meat, fruit and vegetables and having a low intake of fats, salt and sweets was quite revolutionary at the time and when The Complete Scarsdale Medical Diet
was published in 1979, it became an immediate bestseller.
in 1966. A lifelong bachelor, he continued to see other women during the course of their relationship, and in 1979 was having an affair with Lynne Tryforos, a woman who worked as a secretary in his office. This was a source of tension that led to the end of the relationship between Harris and Tarnower, and these tensions came to a boiling point on March 10, 1980, when Harris drove from the Madeira School in McLean, Virginia
to Tarnower's home in Purchase, New York
with a handgun in her possession. At trial, she stated she had planned to commit suicide
after talking in person with Tarnower one last time. When she arrived at the house, however, she noticed Tryforos's lingerie in the bedroom. An argument ensued, and Herman Tarnower allegedly said to her, "Jesus, Jean, you're crazy! Get out of here!" Harris shot Tarnower four times at close range, mortally wounding him. She was arrested and tried for second degree murder, claiming at trial that the shooting was an accident and that the gun had gone off accidentally while Tarnower tried to wrestle it away from her. She was convicted and sentenced to 15 years to life in prison. However, she was granted clemency by New York governor Mario Cuomo
in 1992 and paroled in 1993.
The acknowledgements page of the 9th printing of the paperback edition of Tarnower's The Complete Scarsdale Medical Diet starts with, "We are grateful to Jean Harris for her splendid assistance in the research and writing of this book..." then, two paragraphs later, "We wish, especially, to thank Lynne Tryforos..."
Samm Sinclair Baker
Samm Sinclair Baker was the author/coauthor of many how-to and self-help books, most notably The Complete Scarsdale Medical Diet which he coauthored with Dr. Herman Tarnower....
) of the bestselling diet book The Complete Scarsdale Medical Diet
The Complete Scarsdale Medical Diet
The Scarsdale Medical Diet is a low-fat, low-calorie weight-loss diet system and accompanying book The Scarsdale Medical Diet is a low-fat, low-calorie weight-loss diet system and accompanying book The Scarsdale Medical Diet is a low-fat, low-calorie weight-loss diet system and accompanying book...
. He was shot to death in 1980 by Jean Harris
Jean Harris
Jean Harris was the headmistress of The Madeira School for girls in McLean, Virginia who made national news in 1980 as the defendant in a high-profile murder case of her lover Dr...
, who was convicted of his murder after a three-month trial in White Plains
White Plains
White Plains may refer to:Places* White Plains, New York* White Plains, Georgia* White Plains, Kentucky* White Plains, Maryland* White Plains, North Carolina*White Plains , listed on the NRHP in South Carolina...
in 1981.
Early life
Tarnower was born in Brooklyn, New York to Jewish immigrants Dora and Harry Tarnower. He had three sisters, and attended Syracuse UniversitySyracuse University
Syracuse University is a private research university located in Syracuse, New York, United States. Its roots can be traced back to Genesee Wesleyan Seminary, founded by the Methodist Episcopal Church in 1832, which also later founded Genesee College...
, becoming a medical doctor specializing in cardiology
Cardiology
Cardiology is a medical specialty dealing with disorders of the heart . The field includes diagnosis and treatment of congenital heart defects, coronary artery disease, heart failure, valvular heart disease and electrophysiology...
.
Tarnower established a cardiology
Cardiology
Cardiology is a medical specialty dealing with disorders of the heart . The field includes diagnosis and treatment of congenital heart defects, coronary artery disease, heart failure, valvular heart disease and electrophysiology...
practice in the Scarsdale and White Plains areas of New York. During World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
he joined the US Military Corps and was promoted to major. After the war, he founded the Scarsdale Medical Center and was highly regarded among his colleagues and patients. He was a relentless social climber who held elaborate dinner parties and cultivated a circle of wealthy friends and patients.
Friends from the publishing world suggested to Tarnower that he write a book documenting the diet he recommended to his patients. The basic nutritional philosophy of cutting down on carbohydrates, eating plenty of oily fish
Oily fish
Oily fish have oil in their tissues and in the belly cavity around the gut. Their fillets contain up to 30 percent oil, although this figure varies both within and between species...
, lean meat, fruit and vegetables and having a low intake of fats, salt and sweets was quite revolutionary at the time and when The Complete Scarsdale Medical Diet
The Complete Scarsdale Medical Diet
The Scarsdale Medical Diet is a low-fat, low-calorie weight-loss diet system and accompanying book The Scarsdale Medical Diet is a low-fat, low-calorie weight-loss diet system and accompanying book The Scarsdale Medical Diet is a low-fat, low-calorie weight-loss diet system and accompanying book...
was published in 1979, it became an immediate bestseller.
Murder
Tarnower began a relationship with Jean HarrisJean Harris
Jean Harris was the headmistress of The Madeira School for girls in McLean, Virginia who made national news in 1980 as the defendant in a high-profile murder case of her lover Dr...
in 1966. A lifelong bachelor, he continued to see other women during the course of their relationship, and in 1979 was having an affair with Lynne Tryforos, a woman who worked as a secretary in his office. This was a source of tension that led to the end of the relationship between Harris and Tarnower, and these tensions came to a boiling point on March 10, 1980, when Harris drove from the Madeira School in McLean, Virginia
McLean, Virginia
McLean is an unincorporated community and census-designated place in Fairfax County in Northern Virginia. The community had a total population of 48,115 as of the 2010 census....
to Tarnower's home in Purchase, New York
Purchase, New York
Purchase, New York is a hamlet of the town of Harrison, in Westchester County. Its ZIP code is 10577. Its name is derived from Harrison's purchase, for Harrison could have as much land as he could ride in one day...
with a handgun in her possession. At trial, she stated she had planned to commit suicide
Suicide
Suicide is the act of intentionally causing one's own death. Suicide is often committed out of despair or attributed to some underlying mental disorder, such as depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, alcoholism, or drug abuse...
after talking in person with Tarnower one last time. When she arrived at the house, however, she noticed Tryforos's lingerie in the bedroom. An argument ensued, and Herman Tarnower allegedly said to her, "Jesus, Jean, you're crazy! Get out of here!" Harris shot Tarnower four times at close range, mortally wounding him. She was arrested and tried for second degree murder, claiming at trial that the shooting was an accident and that the gun had gone off accidentally while Tarnower tried to wrestle it away from her. She was convicted and sentenced to 15 years to life in prison. However, she was granted clemency by New York governor Mario Cuomo
Mario Cuomo
Mario Matthew Cuomo served as the 52nd Governor of New York from 1983 to 1994, and is the father of Andrew Cuomo, the current governor of New York.-Early life:...
in 1992 and paroled in 1993.
The acknowledgements page of the 9th printing of the paperback edition of Tarnower's The Complete Scarsdale Medical Diet starts with, "We are grateful to Jean Harris for her splendid assistance in the research and writing of this book..." then, two paragraphs later, "We wish, especially, to thank Lynne Tryforos..."
In popular culture
- In the film Mrs. Harris (2005), Tarnower was portrayed by Ben KingsleyBen KingsleySir Ben Kingsley, CBE is a British actor. He has won an Oscar, BAFTA, Golden Globe and Screen Actors Guild awards in his career. He is known for starring as Mohandas Gandhi in the film Gandhi in 1982, for which he won the Academy Award for Best Actor...
and Jean Harris by Annette BeningAnnette BeningAnnette Carol Bening is an American actress. Bening is a four-time Oscar nominee for her roles in The Grifters, American Beauty, Being Julia and The Kids Are All Right, winning Golden Globe Awards for the latter two films...
. - In the SeinfeldSeinfeldSeinfeld is an American television sitcom that originally aired on NBC from July 5, 1989, to May 14, 1998, lasting nine seasons, and is now in syndication. It was created by Larry David and Jerry Seinfeld, the latter starring as a fictionalized version of himself...
episode "The Summer of GeorgeThe Summer of George"The Summer of George" is the 156th episode of the sitcom Seinfeld. It was also the 22nd and final episode of the 8th season. It originally aired on May 15, 1997.-Plot:...
", Kramer is mistakenly awarded a Tony for a musical named "Scarsdale Surprise", a show about the murder of Herman Tarnower.
External links
- Herman Tarnower at Crime LibraryCrime LibraryThe Crime Library is a website documenting major crimes, criminals, and trials, forensics, and criminal profiling from books, police reports, crime television shows, and writers...