Werner S. Zimmt PhD

Werner S. Zimmt, PhD, World War II veteran and prolific writer of Letters to the Editor of the Arizona Daily Star, died unexpectedly on September 12, 2014. Born in Berlin, Germany in 1921, Werner and his twin Gerald were two of "1000 Children" brought to the United States (Chicago) with the limited American Kindertransport as Nazism rose in Germany. Drafted into the US Army in 1943, Werner forged lifelong friendships while fighting with the 114th Infantry in the European theater in Alsace and Germany. After the war, he earned undergraduate, graduate and PhD degrees in Chemistry from the University of Chicago. In 1947 he married Marianne Scheuer. In 1951 Dr. Zimmt began working for the DuPont Co in Philadelphia where he developed the paint used on most GM cars produced before 1971. Werner and Marianne settled in Wynnewood, PA, had four children and were active members of Temple Beth Hillel/Beth El. Indulging a lifelong passion Dr. Zimmt earned a Masters in Archaeology at the University of Pennsylvania in 1981. After retiring, Werner and Marianne moved to Tucson in 1984, where he began a thirty year volunteer involvement with the Arizona State Museum. Werner combined his deep chemistry knowledge and love of archaeology by working on preservation and restoration of Native artifacts and assisting in the writing of numerous monographs and papers. In 1991 he became an adjunct professor in the University of Arizona Department of Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering. Werner worked closely with professors, undergraduate and graduate students, assisted in research projects, mentored and even edited graduate theses. After Marianne's death in May 1997, Werner replaced her as a volunteer for the Tucson Visitor's Center, where (he joked) he told people where to go and where to get off, and they thanked him for it! In December 1997 Werner married Liesel Klickstein, his and Marianne's friend of 50 years. He also volunteered with the Tucson Symphony and at Pepe's House, TMC Hospice, in return for their support during Liesel's terminal illness in 2007. In May 2014 a four year project came to fruition with publication of A Jesuit Missionary in Eighteenth Century Sonora, The Letters of Father Philipp Segesser. Werner provided translations of German letters for this book, edited by Dr. Raymond Thompson, former Director of the Arizona State Museum. Dr. Zimmt continued all these activities until the day of his death. Admired and valued by so many, Werner's greatest joy was the love and respect of his three children, three stepchildren and all their spouses and children. He epitomized Psalm 92: "The righteous shall flourish like the palm tree, grow mighty like the cedars in Lebanon; planted in the House of the Lord, they shall flourish in the courts of our God. Even in old age they shall bring forth fruit, they shall be full of vigor and strength." Werner is survived by children Stephanie Zimmt-Mack (David Mack) Tucson, Barbara Zimmt (Thomas Kunz) Pittsburgh, Matthew Zimmt (Suzanne Rudnicki) Providence; six grandchildren and one grandson-in law; as well as stepchildren, Julie Joyce, Santa Fe, Karen Pangallo (Salvatore) Salem, MA and Larry Klickstein, Los Angeles; four step-grandchildren (and spouses) and four step-great-grandchildren. In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial contributions to honor Werner's passion for ABE Program Graduate Students, to endow funds for a scholarship in his name. Please make checks payable to: UAF/Dr. Werner Zimmt Memorial Fund. Mail to: UA CALS Development, PO Box 210036, Tucson, AZ 85721-0036. A celebration of his life will be held at a future date.