William Jay "Bill" Zimmerman

Our beloved Bill Zimmerman was born in Aberdeen, Washington on January 13, 1947 to Donald and Margaret (Finch) Zimmerman. He grew up in Hoquiam, graduating from high school in 1965. Bill studied architecture at the University of Washington, earning his degree in August of 1971. At that point he served in Army Air Defense in El Paso, Texas, departing as a captain.

In 1972 Bill and his wife Maureen Williams relocated to the San Francisco Bay Area, where their two children, Claire Elizabeth and Jeffrey Thomas, were born. Bill opened his own architectural office in San Francisco in 1977. Before leaving the Bay Area he ran the San Francisco Marathon and cross-country skied across the Sierras from Mammoth Mountain to Yosemite National Park.

The family moved back to Seattle in 1984, settling into a 1905 house on north Capitol Hill. Bill played soccer on the same team for 18 years and enjoyed riding his bicycle with friends on the STP, RSVP, Ramrod, Whine and Wine, and Tour d’Tucson, plus a few centuries, for 25 years.

In addition to designing many outstanding houses, Bill taught residential architecture at the University of Washington for 18 years and visited Rome many times as he investigated Baroque light.

Bill and Maureen relocated from Capitol Hill to Richmond Beach in 2021, where they remodeled a house and its gardens.

Bill’s parents and his sister Barbara preceded him in death, leaving behind her husband Ron Tolomei, daughters Lisa, Angela, Kristin, and grandchildren.

After a struggle with cancer Bill passed away peacefully at home on September 16th with his wife of 54 years by his side, leaving behind adult children Claire (Miles Blankenship) and Jeff (Iracel Rivero), and granddaughters Minerva Enri and Cora Maeve. We miss him.

A heartfelt thank you to the many friends and health care professionals who were so caring and compassionate. We are planning a celebration of life on November 11th at 12:30pm at Graham Visitor Center, 2300 Arboretum Drive East, Seattle.

We welcome you to provide your thoughts and memories on our Tribute Wall, located above. 

Arrangements entrusted to Emmick Family Funeral Home - Seattle, Washington.

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