Deceased August 11, 2014
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In Memory
Surrounded by family and friends, Bob Zimmerman died Aug. 11, 2014, after a courageous 19-year struggle with cancer.
Bob grew up in Pottsville, Pa., and graduated from its public high school. Freshman year at Amherst he lived in Morrow. He stayed in contact with many friends from that period, including Carl Stearn ’55 and Don Marcus ’55. He joined Phi Delta Theta. Originally Bob planned to transfer to MIT, but he became so intrigued by the humanities that he remained at Amherst, majoring in philosophy and taking many courses in history and English.
After graduation Bob entered the University of Pennsylvania Law School and then practiced real estate law in Philadelphia, first at Morgan, Lewis, where he made partner in 1970, and then Blank, Rome. For the past 20 years, he greatly enjoyed solo practice. He loved the law and was known for his integrity and scholarship.
Bob served on many nonprofit boards, including International Big Brothers/Big Sisters and historical and civic organizations. The Bala Cynwyd Neighborhood Club named him Citizen of the Year in 2014.
Bob loved music. He was an accomplished clarinetist who played at a high level from junior high school through college and studied piano his entire life. He was a devoted officer to the Tempesta di Mare Baroque Orchestra.
Bob was married first to Juliet Goodfriend and then to Judith Zetzel Nathanson, who survive him, as do his brother Barry and his children Erica ’89 and Micah, as well as four grandchildren. All loved and learned much alongside him—from the pleasures of the arts and history to sports and travel. Without lectures or showmanship, Bob demonstrated the joys of lifelong study. He was grateful to the college for launching him.
Classmates of ’55 provided camaraderie during his final months; Bob Herd, Don Marcus and Charlie Pydych attended his funeral.
Don Marcus ’55
Erica Zimmerman ’89