Robert S. Zimmern

Robert S. Zimmern of New York City, Washington CT, East Hampton NY and most recently Portland Maine passed away last Friday morning of natural causes. He was 89 years old. Born October 7th 1927 to Lee and Henriette Zimmern of NYC, he attended the Bronx High School of Science and served in the United States Navy during World War II. He graduated from the University of Wisconsin, was a proud member of Zeta Beta Tau, majored in business and minored in bridge, earning a Masters Point playing for the Badgers. He returned to NYC and began a nearly 50 year career in advertising working for over 40 years at Grey Advertising, then at Waring LaRosa, Kenyon Eckhardt and J Walter Thompson. Mr. Zimmern created or co-created some of the most famous ads of the 60s and 70s including the Canada Dry Ginger Ale Not Too Sweet campaign. He was a relentless skier, intrepid traveler, insatiable gourmand and a remarkable story teller. Mr. Zimmern married Caren Heyman of NYC in 1958 and in 1961 had a son, Andrew. They divorced in 1967. Mr. Zimmern was a devoted ex-husband and an inspirational, loving father. After retiring in the 1980s he sold residential real estate in Connecticut and East Hampton where he also maintained residences with his life partner of 46 years, the late painter Andre Laporte. Mr. Zimmern retired again at age 80 and moved to Portland Maine where he enjoyed traveling, cooking, politics, the NY Times, his dog Bam Bam, theater, restaurants and his many friends and family. He was finally able to marry Mr. Laporte upon the passage of Maines Marriage Equality Act. He was preceded in death by his former wife, his husband, his parents and his brother Richard formerly of Stamford, Connecticut and Boca Raton, Florida. He is survived by his son Andrew, daughter in law Rishia and grandson Noah, all of Edina, Minnesota as well as his nephews Peter, David, and Robert and Stephen Blacher. A memorial is planned for later this winter. Arrangements are under the direction of the Conroy-Tully Crawford Funeral Home, 172 State Street, Portland, ME. To view Roberts memorial page or to share an online condolence, please visit www.ctcrawford.com Donations in his memory can be made to the Rishia Andrew Zimmern Second Chances Scholarship Fund at the James Beard Foundation (www.jamesbeard.org).