Barry Joseph Zimmerman

1942 - 2025

Barry Joseph Zimmerman passed away peacefully after a long illness on February 17, 2025. He was born November 23, 1942 to Victor and Ida Mae (DeKeyser) Zimmerman and raised in Ripon, Wisconsin. Barry leaves a loving family and a long and distinguished career as an educator and researcher.

Barry received his bachelor's degree and Ph.D. in Educational Psychology from the University of Arizona, before joining their faculty. In 1974, he accepted a position at the Department of Educational Psychology at the Graduate Center, City University of New York, where he was later appointed Distinguished Professor, and began a 36-year career conducting research and mentoring doctoral students. In a large scholarly output, he developed multiple pioneering models that profoundly influenced international research in the field of self-regulated learning (SRL) and have been applied to various disciplines including academics, sports, music and health. Barry was particularly interested in its applications to the academic achievement challenges faced by many underprepared high school and college students, providing approaches to help them develop the skills they need to achieve their goals. He also did influential research into the application of SRL to the challenges faced by student-athletes who want to improve their performance. He further applied his research to health issues, including a major project with Columbia University Medical School and Columbia Presbyterian Hospital to address the rapid rise in asthma among inner-city populations of children in New York City. This program helped children and their families to manage their health in ways that led to fewer medical emergencies. Barry also served on the board of the American Lung Association, helped to found the Behavioral Science Assembly of the American Thoracic Society and became a fellow of the American Psychological Association, the American Psychological Society and the American Educational Research Association.

Barry received many honors and awards, but he considered his greatest contribution to be his role in mentoring the next generation of educators through the many graduate students he advised through the years. "A brilliant man with no arrogance only kindness and patience" is how he was described by a former student.

Barry always enjoyed sports and was an avid tennis player, skier and photographer. He was also an accomplished trumpet player, a talent he continued to enjoy through his life. Barry remained close to his extended DeKeyser family and was a committed Green Bay Packers fan. His grandfather played on the 1920 Green Bay Packers team.

Barry was predeceased by his parents and his brother Stephen Zimmerman. He is survived by his wife of 58 years, the love of his life, Diana (Conley) Zimmerman, as well as his two daughters Shana Zimmerman and Kristin (Alex) Scott, his two grandchildren Katherine and Nicholas Scott, his nephew Sean Zimmerman and his niece Erin Hall.

A memorial mass and celebration of life will be held in the near future.