Obituary for Martin Zimmerman
Zimmerman, Martin
It pains me to admit it, but apparently, I have passed away. October 29, 2023. Everyone told me it would happen one day but that's simply not something I wanted to hear yet, much less experience. I still had plans.
On June 6, 1967, I met my older siblings, Wendy Beaucage (Jeff) and Kerry Zimmerman (Diane) as they celebrated my birth.
As a child, I walked 2 miles uphill each way in the snow to get to school, where a friendly member of the AV club introduced me to my first love: computers! Hello World!
I completed highschool, and quickly discovered that university was not for me; they wanted me to study (and pass) non-software courses! The nerve! But I proved myself far more talented at a keyboard than any degree would have allowed.
Being a Geek enabled me some great sightseeing, and if you dined at our table, you had to endure the tales I regaled from around the world. From drinking (Coke) in British pubs to discovering Colombian coffee at its source. From nervously passing snipers with their rifles at the ready as I deftly made the crossing from Israel into Jordan, to entertaining my inner Indiana Jones as I explored Petra, through to staring down the hairy claw facing me from my soup in Shanghai.
I knew I had met the woman of my dreams, Cathy, when I gave her my last Jolt Cola. Soon after, I nervously planted a kiss on her as her grandfather married us. He must have done a good job; that "for as long as we both shall live" vow endured, 25 years later. Early into those years, we "levelled-up", having the two children we wanted, and unleashed our daughters, Sandra Zimmerman (Vanessa) and Julia Zimmerman, into the world. They both still have some growing up to do, but I am confident they will one day find their first grey hairs and know I am laughing.
I have robbed my beloved Cathy of four more decades of the two of us growing old together. Robbed her of the two of us laughing at the thousands of simple and silly things we have come to share in our lives. That is no comparison to how much more love I have brazenly stolen from her as she lovingly cared for and comforted me until my final breath.
I was born, I blinked, and it was over. No buildings were named after me, no monuments erected in my honour (granted, I did build a lot of them with Lego). But I did have the chance to truly know and love each and every friend, as well as all of my family and extended family. How much better can a life possibly be?
Relatives, friends and colleagues are invited to join Martin's family for a celebration of life on Saturday, November 18, 2023 at 1:30 p.m. at the Henry Walser Funeral Home (507 Frederick St. Kitchener, 519-749-8467). Reception to follow.
For those unable to attend, the service may be viewed via livestream at https://www.henrywalser.com/live-streaming.
For anyone wanting to support Martin's family during this time, a GoFundMe me has been set up https://www.gofundme.com/f/supporting-the-zimmerman-family-20.
Please visit www.henrywalser.ca for Martin's memorial.
It pains me to admit it, but apparently, I have passed away. October 29, 2023. Everyone told me it would happen one day but that's simply not something I wanted to hear yet, much less experience. I still had plans.
On June 6, 1967, I met my older siblings, Wendy Beaucage (Jeff) and Kerry Zimmerman (Diane) as they celebrated my birth.
As a child, I walked 2 miles uphill each way in the snow to get to school, where a friendly member of the AV club introduced me to my first love: computers! Hello World!
I completed highschool, and quickly discovered that university was not for me; they wanted me to study (and pass) non-software courses! The nerve! But I proved myself far more talented at a keyboard than any degree would have allowed.
Being a Geek enabled me some great sightseeing, and if you dined at our table, you had to endure the tales I regaled from around the world. From drinking (Coke) in British pubs to discovering Colombian coffee at its source. From nervously passing snipers with their rifles at the ready as I deftly made the crossing from Israel into Jordan, to entertaining my inner Indiana Jones as I explored Petra, through to staring down the hairy claw facing me from my soup in Shanghai.
I knew I had met the woman of my dreams, Cathy, when I gave her my last Jolt Cola. Soon after, I nervously planted a kiss on her as her grandfather married us. He must have done a good job; that "for as long as we both shall live" vow endured, 25 years later. Early into those years, we "levelled-up", having the two children we wanted, and unleashed our daughters, Sandra Zimmerman (Vanessa) and Julia Zimmerman, into the world. They both still have some growing up to do, but I am confident they will one day find their first grey hairs and know I am laughing.
I have robbed my beloved Cathy of four more decades of the two of us growing old together. Robbed her of the two of us laughing at the thousands of simple and silly things we have come to share in our lives. That is no comparison to how much more love I have brazenly stolen from her as she lovingly cared for and comforted me until my final breath.
I was born, I blinked, and it was over. No buildings were named after me, no monuments erected in my honour (granted, I did build a lot of them with Lego). But I did have the chance to truly know and love each and every friend, as well as all of my family and extended family. How much better can a life possibly be?
Relatives, friends and colleagues are invited to join Martin's family for a celebration of life on Saturday, November 18, 2023 at 1:30 p.m. at the Henry Walser Funeral Home (507 Frederick St. Kitchener, 519-749-8467). Reception to follow.
For those unable to attend, the service may be viewed via livestream at https://www.henrywalser.com/live-streaming.
For anyone wanting to support Martin's family during this time, a GoFundMe me has been set up https://www.gofundme.com/f/supporting-the-zimmerman-family-20.
Please visit www.henrywalser.ca for Martin's memorial.