Dr. Robert Paul Zimmerer

Dr. Robert Paul Zimmerer, 92, a resident of Huntingdon since 1961, died on Friday, October 14, 2022, at his residence. Born December 7, 1929 in Sheboygan, WI, he was a son of the late John and Irene (Stephani) Zimmerer. He was united in marriage to the former Mary McLean on January 21, 1956, at the Trinity Episcopal Church, Geneva, NY. Mrs. Zimmerer preceded him in death on September 19, 2022.
He is survived by three children, Kay A. Palchak and husband, Thomas Palchak, of Lemont, Carolyn Z. Stubler and husband, Michael Stubler, of Altoona, and William F. Zimmerer and wife, Julie (Honaker) Zimmerer, of Laguna Niguel, CA; eight grandchildren, Joseph and Catherine Palchak, Richard Brown and wife, Suzanne, Edward Brown and wife, Emily, Megan and Lauren Zimmerer, Stephanie Stubler, and Michelle Booth and husband, Donald; and nine great-grandchildren. He is also survived by a brother, John Zimmerer of Tucson, AZ. He was preceded in death by a brother, Fred Zimmerer.
Dr. Zimmerer was a member of St. John's Episcopal Church, Huntingdon, where he served on the Vestry for many years and as Senior Warden for three years.
Dr. Zimmerer graduated from Wausau Senior High School, Wausau, WI, in 1948. After high school he enrolled at the University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, where he received a Bachelor of Science degree in Botany in 1954. Subsequently, he attained his Master of Science degree in Plant Physiology and Microbiology from Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, in 1961. In 1966, he received his Ph.D. in Plant Physiology and Microbiology from The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA. Following the receipt of his Ph.D., Dr. Zimmerer also took a number of continuing education courses including, the Chautauqua Short Course in Immunology, 1970, The Molecular Biology in 1980, Dideoxy DNA Sequencing Short Course at The Pennsylvania State University in 1984, and the Chautauqua Short Course in Basic Biology of Cancer at the Wistar Institute, Philadelphia, in 1986.
He served in the U.S. Army beginning in 1951 as a Medical Technologist and Microbiology Specialist during the Korean War, and was honorably discharged in 1953.
Dr. Zimmerer was first employed in 1954 at the former Stauffer Chemical Company, San Francisco, CA, as a Technical Writer in the agricultural chemical division until 1956. In 1956, he began working for Hopkins Agricultural Chemical Company, Madison, WI, as a technical writer and an assistant plant manager until 1957. In 1957, he served as a research chemist at the American Can Company, Rothschild, WI. In 1959, he studied at Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, and as a Teaching Assistant in the Botany Department until 1961. In 1961, he became employed by Juniata College, Huntingdon, where he obtained the rank of Assistant Professor in 1963, Associate Professor in 1967, and was promoted to the Dana Supported Professor of Biology in 1974, where he worked until his retirement in 1993, after 32 years of service. In addition, he also served as a Research Assistant in the Botany Department at The Pennsylvania State University from 1961 until 1966, as well as, a Visiting Professor of Plant Physiology at the University of Maine, Orono, Maine, during the summer session in 1970. He also served as a consultant from 1964 until 1967 at Mine Safety Research Corporation, Owens-Corning Fiberglas Corporation in 1968, the Veterinary Science Department at Penn State from 1967 until 1970, the U.S.D.A. Pasture Laboratory at Penn State from 1972 until 1974, and J.C. Blair Memorial Hospital as an Infection Control Officer from 1971 until 1975. During his time as an educator he instructed numerous courses including, Microbiology, Cell and Molecular Biology, Biophysics, Electron Microscopy, Immunology, Biological Control Mechanisms, General Botany, Plant Physiology, Microbial Physiology and Mycology.
He was awarded Grass Foundation Grants from 1965 until 1968 for Biological Membrane visiting lectureships, a MacArthur Foundation Grant in 1989 and 1990 for Biological Warfare Study, and the Beachley Distinguished Teaching Award, Juniata College, Huntingdon, in 1985. He also created the N.I.H. Grant for his synopsis on "Free Fatty Acids in Sudden Infant Death Syndrome" and co-created the grant program in Undergraduate Biological Sciences Initiative with Kevin McCullen, Vice-President of Development at the Howard Hughes Medical Institute in 1988. In addition, he wrote and co-wrote eleven scientific publications.
He was a member of the Personnel Committee of Faculty, the Executive Committee, Curriculum Committee, the Peace and Conflicts Studies Program Committee, the Planning Committee, and the International Studies Committee, all at Juniata College, Huntingdon. He was also a member of the American Society for Microbiology, the Allegheny Branch of the American Society for Microbiology, where he served as a past President, Sigma Xi: The Scientific Research Society, the Pennsylvania Academy of Science, the Washington Section of the American Society of Plant Physiology, the National Science Teachers Association, and the National Association of Health Professions Advisors. In addition, he served as a council member and past President of the Huntingdon County Arts Council, as well as, a past president for the Friends of Library, Juniata College, both of Huntingdon. He was also a member of the Huntingdon Borough Sewer and Water Authority and of the Huntingdon County Health Systems Agency, also of Huntingdon. Furthermore, during his time at Juniata College, he served as Chairman to various administrative organizations within the college including, the Biology Department from 1974 until 1977, 1986 until 1988, and from 1991 until his retirement, as well as, the Health Professions Committee from 1968 until the year of his retirement in 1993.
Dr. Zimmerer took great pleasure in teaching and doing research projects with the excellent, enthusiastic students at Juniata College. He further enjoyed taking students to national research conferences and meetings in cities such as New York, Washington, and Atlantic City. He often traveled with students to research and educational institutions such as the N.I.H., Smithsonian in D.C., Longwood Gardens in Kennett Square and industrial labs like Westinghouse in Pittsburgh. With his wife, Mary, he frequently arranged bus trips for students to visit places like Boston for whale watching, and the Baltimore Inner Harbor for the aquariums and museums. He also enjoyed his many colleagues and staff members with whom he worked on committees or projects.
He and his wife, Mary, met in San Francisco and they shared a mutual love for the city. He loved to travel and the two traveled extensively in North America and Europe. He also enjoyed hiking, biking, reading, gardening, photography, bird watching, and spending time with his family and friends. He and his wife also enjoyed volunteer work for the Juniata College Enrollment Department from the time of his retirement until 2016, assisting in bringing students to Juniata College. They were also ardent fans of the Juniata College men's and women's volleyball teams. Additionally, Dr. Zimmerer was a long-time volunteer for the Huntingdon Area Food Pantry, Friends of the Huntingdon County Library, and chairman of the committee of the Huntingdon Borough Flag Pole Trails.
A joint celebration of life service for Dr. Zimmerer and his late wife, Mary, will be held at 11:00 A.M. on Saturday, October 29, 2022, at St. John's Episcopal Church, 212 Penn St., Huntingdon, with the Rev. Gene Tucker officiating. Friends will be received from 10:00 A.M. until the hour of service and immediately following the service in the church.
In lieu of flowers memorial contributions in remembrance of Dr. Robert P. Zimmerer may be made to Juniata College, for a scholarship fund for students studying the plant sciences or microbiology, 1700 Moore St., Huntingdon, PA 16652 or to St. John's Episcopal Church, 212 Penn St., Huntingdon, PA 16652 or to the Huntingdon County Library, 330 Penn St., Huntingdon, PA 16652.
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