Bryant Zimmerman

1922 - 2016

Bryant K. Zimmerman

On September 21st, Bryant K. Zimmerman passed away peacefully at the age of 93. His life was marked with a love of family, determined hard work, and an irrepressible intellect. The third child of Hazel Kable Zimmerman and Milo Zimmerman, Bryant Kable Zimmerman was born on November 19, 1922 in the small town of Mount Morris, Illinois. He was an exceedingly bright mind and excelled academically from a young age, in a childhood filled with a love of music. A talented pianist, he played in state and national competitions, in the sanctuary of Mount Morris's close-knit Trinity Lutheran Church, and in the homes of countless family friends—often with his older sister Doris as duet partner.

In 1940, Bryant began studies in mathematics and physics at Augustana College in Rock Island, Illinois. In 1945—while a Lieutenant in the Army Air Corps and stationed at Fresno's Camp Pinedale—he met Harriet Bong at a mixer and fell head over heels in love. The young couple married three months later. They returned briefly to Rock Island for Bryant's graduation from Augustana before moving to Melrose, Massachusetts, where Bryant entered Harvard Law School and where their first child, daughter Paula, was born in 1946, followed by their son Keith two years later.

Bryant's first post-Harvard position, working in maritime law at the McCutchen firm in San Francisco, took the young family across the country to the Bay Area—first to Oakland, then Burlingame, where their son Craig was born and where all three kids grew up. In 1965, Bryant accepted a General Counsel position at Guy F. Atkinson Construction. He went on to lead a distinguished 23-year career at Atkinson, where he was named Senior Vice President and served as trusted counsel during Atkinson's most expansive and vital years—indispensable in the successful completion of major dam and civil infrastructure projects. Bryant retired in 1988, but remained a keen legal mind and an enthusiastic patron of arts and culture—always curious, always learning.

In their 63 years of uncommonly happy marriage, Bryant and Harriet worked as a team to extend themselves with open hearts and generous spirits to many in need—several of whom they met through the extended circle of the Burlingame United Methodist Church, a community to which they were devoted. They were enthusiastic supporters of the church's homeless outreach service, Call Primrose, and eventually taught Sunday School together—Harriet took care of the lessons for years, and Bryant later joined her by playing the ebullient piano music for which the kids loved him. Their hilltop home on Del Monte Drive in Hillsborough was known as a place of welcome for friends old and new, and remains the site of countless happy memories for their family. On frequent trips to the National Parks and beyond, Bryant and Harriet shared their awe for nature, curiosity, and deep love of travel with their family—who, continuing the tradition today, are prone to packing-up together for multigenerational adventures.

Bryant is survived by his three loving children Paula, Keith, and Craig, and four grandchildren Lauren, Cory, Kyle, and Cody. He will be much missed and always admired for his sharp mind and good heart.

A service celebrating Bryant's life will be held on October 22nd at 1:30 PM at the Burlingame United Methodist Church. All are welcome.