Public health advocate and Canyon Ranch founder Mel Zuckerman died March 18 at his home in Tucson, the University of Arizona announced. He was 94.

Zuckerman turned his own health struggles into a strength for himself and others by founding Canyon Ranch on Tucson’s east side. Throughout his life, he worked to build the wellness resort into an iconic worldwide brand.

Zuckerman has been described by his colleagues as “a visionary,” who saw years before others recognized that good nutrition and physical activity can improve performance in all aspects of life.