News

By Tim O’Meilia

SOUTH PALM BEACH — Leon “Lee” Sol Zimmerman, a former vice mayor and councilman and one of the founders of the town’s popular music and lecture series, died Jan. 23. He was 90.
When Lee and Bernice Zimmerman settled permanently in South Palm Beach in 1985, they brought with them decades of experience in the printing business.
They put that expertise to good use by launching The Sandpiper, the town newsletter. Mr. Zimmerman helped found the town’s Community Affairs Advisory Board in 1995 and served on it, including seven years as chairman, until he became a town councilman in 2002.
Mr. Zimmerman served six years on the council beginning in 2002, never facing opposition, including four years as vice mayor, chosen by his council colleagues. The town’s three-term limit forced him off the council in 2008.
“He was a very innovative person,” said former Mayor Maurice Jacobson, who served on the council with Mr. Zimmerman. “He was totally dedicated to the town. And you can’t speak about Lee without Bernie. They were a team.”
Mr. Zimmerman designed the CAAB’s flyers for town events, including the music and lecture series which he nurtured from their beginnings. One of the reasons the Town Hall was expanded was to make more room in the council chambers for lecture and music audiences.
In 2001, he engineered an appearance by former U.S. Attorney General Janet Reno, the most highly attended lecture ever in the town. When Reno decided to run for governor, Mr. Zimmerman and town officials were forced to scramble and erect a huge tent on the Town Hall property to accommodate the hundreds who attended.
“We’ve lost a good man for our town,” said former Councilman Joseph Kolbowski. “He was very active and took his job very seriously. He was very appreciative of older councilmen even when I might have disagreed on some issues.”
Councilman Joseph Flagello, who came on the council when Mr. Zimmerman stepped down, was impressed with his forward thinking. “One of his ideas was to Wi-Fi the whole town. It didn’t happen, but it was a great idea. He was a great marketer for the town,” he said.
Mr. Zimmerman was born and grew up in Philadelphia, where he attended the Charles Moore Price School of Advertising. He married the former Bernice Shapiro.
He served in the Navy during World War II and after the war the couple moved to Baltimore, where he owned a printing company. They were part-time residents in South Palm Beach beginning in the 1970s until they made South Palm Beach their permanent home in 1985.
Mr. Zimmerman is survived by his wife of 68 years, Bernice; a son, Donald “Duke” of Baltimore; a daughter, Rosanne Zimmerman of New York City; a sister, Elena Newman of Cherry Hill, N.J.; five grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.
A memorial was held Jan. 26 at the Town Hall. A funeral will be held in Baltimore. Instead of flowers, contributions may be made to the Palm Beach Cancer Institute Foundation, 1411 N. Flagler Drive, Suite 8900B, West Palm Beach, FL 33401.