A child of New York City, Zimmerman was born in the Bronx in 1934 to Louis Zimmerman, an attorney, and Rose Aginsky Zimmerman, a public school teacher. He grew up with his brother Seth (b. 1940) near the Grand Concourse and attended the Bronx High School of Science, graduating in 1951. Zimmerman earned degrees at Dartmouth College (1955) and Yale Law School (1958). He spent most of his professional career in public service, including stints as a Peace Corps country director in India and Iran and as an aide to New York mayor John Lindsay.

But Paul Zimmerman's central focus and purpose were his family and his friends. He was the devoted husband and life partner of Margot Ann Lurie, whom he married in 1957. They were insatiable travelers and inseparable from each other, navigating six continents and nearly a hundred nations. 

Paul took immeasurable pride in his three children--Jeffrey (b. 1959), Jonathan (b. 1961) and Julie (b. 1965)--and in his six grandchildren: Alison, Sarah, Amy, Rebecca, William, and Andrew. He was equally proud of his children's spouses: Sharon Weinberg, Susan Coffin, and Adam Ratner. Paul and Margot cultivated friends at every turn and brought them on many travels, including two memorable 20-person trips to India. Their final journey was a return visit to Iran in October 2017, closing the circle on six decades together.

We will remember Paul Zimmerman for his hearty laugh, his infectious enthusiasms, and the easy way that he brought good cheer to everyone around him. 

A celebration of his life will be held on Saturday, December 16. Donations can be made in Paul's memory to Americans United for the Separation of Church and State (https://www.au.org) or to Dartmouth College (http://home.dartmouth.edu).

FROM THE PEACE CORPS YEARS

Paul speaking at a conference on the Peace Corps in Tehran (he starts around 21:24)

https://youtu.be/EngNx-HonM8

Photos from here.

THE MO-PED YEARS

Mo-ped pundit:

BAR ASSOCIATION PROFILE

M. Paul Zimmerman

Lawyer

M. Paul Zimmerman, American lawyer. Bar: New York 1959, District of Columbia 1960. Served as Second lieutenant Army of the United States, 1958-1959. Member New York Bar Association, District of Columbia Bar Association, Phi Beta Kappa.

Background

• Zimmerman, M. Paul was born on April 22, 1934 in New York City. Son of Louis and Rose (Aginsky) Zimmerman.

Education

• Bachelor, Dartmouth College, 1955. Bachelor of Laws, Yale University, 1958.

Career

• General attorney Civil Aeronautics Board, Washington, 1959. 
• Practice law Wolf & Wolf, 1960-1962. 
• General counsel National Aircraft Noise Abatement Council, 1963-1964, executive secretary, 1965.
• Director Peace Corps, South India, 1966-1968, Iran, 1969-1971. 
• First deputy administrator New York City Environmental Protection Agency, 1971-1974.
• Executive director Moped Association American, 1975-1982.
• Attorney Wolf & Wolf, since 1983.

Major achievements

• Bar: New York 1959, District of Columbia 1960.

Membership

Served as Second lieutenant Army of the United States, 1958-1959. Member New York Bar Association, District of Columbia Bar Association, Phi Beta Kappa.