ROBERT LEE ZIMMERMAN July 24, 1929 – May 6, 2014
Robert lee Zimmerman, also known to me and so many others as “Uncle Bob”, was so many things. I would fail if I attempted to describe them all.
Bob was born to Nettie and Ward Zimmerman (the original) July 24th 1929 in South Dakota. He was born fourth of five children, having one older sister Donna Gene, two older brothers, Jim and Ward, and one younger sister Hazel. (who is with us today)
Bob has two children, David and Jane; and five grandchildren. He married his wife, my Aunt Adelaide on Feb 25th 1993, whom he loved, as she rivaled him in character.
Bob graduated high school at the young age of 14, and went on to graduate from M.I.T. with a doctorate at only age 22. He taught for 36 years at the University of Sao Paolo, and also was a physics professor at AAMU in Huntsville, Alabama. Home was where his heart was; and his heart was in Brazil.
Yes, Bob was an educated man, an intelligent, accomplished man. One known by many for his accomplishments. But, That is not what truly makes a man who he is…it is just what he does. WHAT MAKES A MAN IS HIS CHARACTER AND THE TRAITS HE BESTOWS.
“A GOOD NAME IS RATHER TO BE CHOSEN THAN GREAT RICHES, AND LOVING FAVOR RATHER THAN SILVER AND GOLD. Proverbs 22:1
If you know Bob only for his accomplishments, then I am sorry, you did not know who Bob really was.
Bob was a patient man: Showing attentiveness and always being willing to take time to LISTEN to the things that were important to others, even if that person was a small child whose life’s concerns revolved around butterflies and hot chocolate. Despite the intelligence he was blessed with, it was obvious the simple things in life were more important.
Through his gentleness, Bob showed personal care and concern in meeting the needs of others before his own were met; often forgoing his own desires to make sure others were put first.
In this way Bob showed love and selflessness, giving to others basic needs without having any motive for personal reward.
Bob was not a respecter of persons. Meaning: Neither a person’s level of intelligence, financial status, or outward appearance in life, affected how he treated them. In this way he showed tolerance, not prejudice. He showed acceptance of others as unique expressions of specific character qualities in varying degrees of maturity.
Bob was always eager to show benevolence and hospitality. Through his generosity, Bob allowed others to experience things that they otherwise would have missed. These experiences were far from limited, and inspired those who received such “gifts” to go farther, think deeper, and have more confidence in themselves. During his years in Brazil, he started a tennis school for students that helped kids win scholarships to universities around the world!
Bob was very humble. I never remember him promoting himself or his accomplishments. He never bragged about his successes, but rather laughed at his failures! Instead he encouraged others to overcome their self determined limitations and make something of themselves, to leave a “foot print in the sand” per say, in whatever field that inspired them.
Bob encouraged creativity. He took the time to listen to the ideas of others, especially those that had little or no “higher education”. He appreciated the uninhibited “fresh” approach from minds that had not been trained to think in only one direction, or from a “learned” perspective. Bob Said once, “…I find that people with free minds… are able to solve complicated issues, problems, or tasks by thinking outside the box…If they don’t know that it is impossible…if they don’t know that they can’t…they usually are more able to accomplish what they set out to do, or to solve.” Bob always had a way of making a person feel smarter than they were.
Bob loved a challenge of any kind. In fact, he learned to do most anything he set his mind to. From playing classical guitar, learning to fly and receive his private pilot’s license and owning his own plane, to designing and flying his own hang glider. He loved to ski. I spent many times “chasing Bob down the slopes of Mt. Hood (one of his favorite playgrounds) His eyes bright with enthusiasm and his beard full of snow and icicles! “Let’s do that again!” he’d say. “ I want to see if I can “shred” that run again! (which was a term he learned from my teenage daughter.) At one time, he and one of my younger daughters were the oldest and youngest skiers on the mountain; with Bob in his 80’s, and my daughter barely 2 years old. And they skied together. He would wait with me to take the snowcat up to the highest skiable part of Mt Hood and then he ski all the way down with “Style”!
Bob loved adventure. He never limited his experiences. If there was ever anything that was beyond his physical capabilities, he would encourage others to do it while he cheered them on.
Bob never made you meet him at his level. He met you at yours.
Bob’s legacy will continue NOT by what he accomplished, but rather by what he has encouraged others to accomplish. Who Bob was, is not gone. It can be found as inspiration in hundreds, if not thousands of people his life touched. Bob has forever changed the world in this way because so many were inspired and encouraged by him, his character will carry on and continue to inspire others in the future. I know it has changed me.
I can truly say Bob was great. After all he was my GREAT UNCLE BOB.
Written from the heart with love, by his great nephew, Steve Dickinson Jr.