Stan Zimmelman

Stan Zimmelman

January 14, 1925 – May 27, 2024

The Legend of Stan Zimmelman

Mischief, Pigeons, and a Pure Heart

Stan Zimmelman, star athlete and prankster of Beverly Hills, took his final bow on May 27, 2024, at the grand age of 99. Born in Denver, Colorado on January 14, 1925, Stan's journey began when his family moved to Beverly Hills. While a student at Horace Mann Elementary School, Stan's knack for trouble and mischief flourished. However, a beautiful sense of justice and empathy also thrived as he championed the cause of the underdog-eschewing all bullying. His deep sense of caring is further evidenced by noting that Stan raised and trained homing pigeons through middle and high school!

By the time Stan entered Beverly Hills High School, he had gotten even better at trouble, fighting, and-sports. Stan demonstrated outstanding athletic skills. He was fearless and he excelled. He was a natural athlete. He lettered three years in football, basketball, and track-not just lettered, but of star quality. However, his athleticism could not keep him away from "reform school." He was in trouble all through school and often got his friends in trouble, too. Ultimately, everyone was shocked when, in his senior year, he was kicked out of Beverly and finished at LA High School.

After graduation, Stan enlisted into the Army Air Force to fight during WWII. Amidst his adventurous life, he married and later divorced June Almaleh. They had two children, Joe and Patricia.

Post-war, Stan earned a Kinesiology degree from UCLA, defying all expectations and, again, to the amazement of his friends, he became a teacher and assistant principal. After he retired from teaching, he joined the family jewelry business where he met and married Karen. Together they shared 38 years of animal rescues, love and Stan's unapologetic joy of smoking. Stan lived boldly and defiantly by the motto he had adopted as a young man:

"It's my life, I lived it, I loved it, criticism be damned!"

This was his guiding light and seems to accurately represent the Stan we knew and loved.

Stan leaves behind his loving wife Karen, his son Joe and daughter-in-law Luella, nephews Mark and Paul, and countless friends who will forever remember his humor, kindness, and zest for life.