Her life had many chapters—mother and homemaker, active church member, working woman,
award winning chef and loving grandmother; she found joy in each of them and shared it with
those around her.
Bev was the second child born to Stephen Robinson and Ada Curtis. Ada Curtis Robinson later
died due to complications of childbirth, and Stephen re-married to Nora Parks who courageously
raised the family of 5 young children.
An avid learner, Bev graduated from Roosevelt High School in Des Moines in 1947 and went to
on earn an Associates Degree at Graceland College in Lamoni, IA in 1949.
She moved from small town Iowa to the big city of Washington DC to work in the US Capitol
Building for Congressman Fred Schwingle. Legend has it that she could type 120 words per
minute which helped her land that leading job in the congressman‘s office. She married Dale
Zimmerman on December 30, 1954 in Washington and they celebrated their 65th wedding
anniversary this past December 2019. From DC, Bev and Dale moved to Binghamton, NY and
started a family printing business, Dataflow Inc, in 1958. Bev and Dale spent many happy years
raising their family and growing their business together.
Throughout her lifetime, Bev worked to advance woman's roles. She championed the role of
women in her church, Community of Christ, was the first female Chairman of the Board for the
Broome County Chamber of Commerce, and was elected to serve western New York on the
White House Council for Small Business. From starting the popular annual ice cream social
fundraiser at Calvin Coolidge Elementary school in Binghamton to working on Capitol Hill, she
balanced career roles and motherhood with a kind smile and surprisingly mischievous sense of
humor.
Bev and Dale spent their happy retirement years in Port Charlotte FL, where they made many
friends, threw many a dinner party, which usually involved a game of cards over dessert, enjoyed
traveling and especially participating in Road Scholar programs all around the US.
Beverly was loved by her four siblings Shirley (husband Don) Powell (deceased); Ardyce
(husband Roy) Mills; Stephen (wife Margy) Robinson and Ada (husband Bud) O'dell and their
families.
Beverly is survived by her loving and dedicated husband Dale Zimmerman, now living in
Rochester, NY; and her three children Ray Zimmerman of London, UK; Dan Zimmerman of
Binghamton, NY and Julie McCormick of Rochester, NY and by her 6 wonderful grandchildren,
Alexandre and Geoffrey Zimmerman; Hannah and Hunter Zimmerman and Madeline and Sophie
McCormick.
Bev will be missed by many, and remembered by all for her great smile, that ever present
twinkle in her eye and her generous spirit of love and kindness.
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