September 22, 2003
TO THE CAMPUS COMMUNITY
Dear Colleagues:
It is with profound sadness that I write to inform you of the death today of our esteemed colleague, Everett Zimmerman. He recently had been diagnosed with brain cancer.
Professor Zimmerman began his career at UCSB as an Assistant Professor of English in 1969, after having taught at Rutgers University for three years. Born in 1936, Everett Zimmerman was married to Dr. Muriel Zimmerman, former Director of the Writing Program. During his 34 years at UCSB, he distinguished himself in a variety of important positions by his dedication, integrity, and high standards. He served as Chair of the Department of English (1980-83), Dean of Undergraduate Studies (1988-89), Acting Provost (1997-99), and Provost (1999-2001). Under Provost Zimmerman’s wise and dedicated leadership, the College of Letters and Science made important advances. He also served on numerous departmental and university committees, including the Committee on Educational Policy and Planning and the Executive Committee of the College of Letters and Science, which he chaired.
Everett Zimmerman was a highly respected scholar of eighteenth-century British literature whose research and professional accomplishments enhanced the reputation of the Department of English and the university. A Guggenheim Fellow and the recipient of grants from the National Endowment for the Humanities, he was the author of many articles and three books, Defoe and the Novel, Swift’s Narrative Satires, and The Boundaries of Fiction: History and the 18th Century British Novel. Professor Zimmerman also was a dedicated teacher, admired by both undergraduate and graduate students for his knowledge, enthusiasm, and dry humor.
It is impossible to express the loss to the campus community and to the many of us who knew Everett as a friend, colleague, teacher, and university citizen. He will be mourned and missed. A campus memorial service will be scheduled in late October. Everett’s family suggests that donations may be made to Visiting Nurse and Hospice Care of Santa Barbara.
Please join Dilling and me in offering our deepest condolences to Muriel and their family.
Sincerely,
Henry T. Yang