Arthur B. Zimmerman

Arthur B. Zimmerman Arthur B. Zimmerman was born in Poland on February 12, 1920 and immigrated to the US at the age of 18 months. Art was the founder and chairman of Zim's Restaurants, a 45 year S.F. institution. He passed away January 22, 2008. Art formed Zim's as a sideline to Ideal Paint Company, which he started in 1938 upon graduation from Commerce High School. During WWII he served four years mostly with Patton's 3rd Army in the European Theater. While in the Army he had recurrent dreams of huge, juicy hamburgers and rich creamy milk shakes. In 1949, when the building next door to Ideal's offices became available, he joined forces with an existing restaurant operator and opened the "Ground Cow" restaurant. A year later, they dissolved their partnership and Art continued to operate the San Francisco Ground Cow under a new name "Zim's." It became the largest privately held restaurant chain in the Bay Area. He developed a second career as a real estate entrepreneur. Art served as president of the Golden Gate Restaurant Association and as a member of the Advisory Council to the Hotel and Restaurant School of City College of S.F. He was the recipient of the Golden Gate Restaurant Association Hall of Fame Award. Art served as president of Congregation Beth Sholom, Northern California regional president and national vice president of the United Synagogue of America, president of the Bureau of Jewish Education of S.F., president of the Jewish Vocational Service, president of the S.F. Council of the Jewish National Fund and president of Sinai Memorial Chapel. He has been active with the Hebrew Free Loan Association, Jewish Home, Jewish Community Federation, American Jewish Committee, State of Israel Bonds Organization, United Jewish Community Centers, Concordia Argonaut Club, B'nai Brith, S.F. Ballet Association, Marin Symphony, and the Marina Lions Club. He was the recipient of many special awards including those from Brandeis Hillel Day School, University of Judaism, Jewish National Fund, Israel Bonds and the American Jewish Committee. Art is survived by his children, Steven and Judy Zimmerman, Nancy and Richard Pechner and grandchildren, Joy and Jason Walker, Jacob Zimmerman, Joshua Zimmerman, Maddy Pechner, Sofi Pechner and Toby Pechner as well as his siblings Esther Ososke and Harold and Norma Zimmerman; his loving companion Carol Weitz; many loving nieces, nephews, friends, and the staff of Care Meridian, Fairfax who became part of his family. Art was predeceased by his late wives, Shirlee Graubart Zimmerman, Alice Zimmerman and his daughter Beverly Zimmerman Bock. Funeral services will be held on Thursday January 24, 2008 at 1:30 p.m. at Congregation Kol Shofar, 215 Blackfield Drive, Tiburon. Donations in Art's memory can be made to the Jewish Community High School of the Bay, Brandeis Hillel Day School or the Alice and Arthur Zimmerman Library at Kiryat Shmona, c/o the Jewish Community Endowment Fund.