Mates don’t forget Kurt Zimmerli for his adore of artwork, society and Spartanburg
Spartanburg philanthropist Kurt Zimmerli is getting remembered as a qualified businessman and for his contributions to the arts, local community and to bigger schooling at Converse School.
Zimmerli, a native of Switzerland and founder of Zima, a textile equipment company, and Kusters, a paper equipment business, died at his home Sunday. He was 93.
Friend and fellow Converse Lifetime Trustee Monthly bill Barnet explained Zimmerli as a thoughtful and experienced businessman and leader who, with his spouse, Nelly, created main contributions to the attractiveness of Spartanburg. The Zimmerlis paid for the amphitheater in Barnet Park. In addition, the environmentally friendly room at the Spartanburg County Headquarters General public Library and the courtyard of the Chapman Cultural Center also are named in their honor since of their contributions to the assignments.
“Their generosity of each spirit and resources is evident throughout the confront of Spartanburg. The gift of the amphitheater and fountain in the group park, the developing at Converse Higher education bearing their name, the fountain honoring the legacy of his mate Hans Balmer and the statue at the entrance of the library — all are examples of willingly supplied aesthetic assets we all can share. The assist of our symphony is yet another blessing we can rejoice,” Barnet stated.
At Converse, he is remembered for his enjoy of audio. Zimmerli was a regular at the Carlos Moseley Chamber New music Sequence and led the to start with renovation of Twichell Auditorium in 1989. In 2019, the Zimmerlis guide endeavours to renovate Twichell, producing the lead present toward the renovation. In honor of their assist, Converse bestowed the title Zimmerli Effectiveness Centre on the facility that residences Twichell Auditorium.
Various decades earlier, Zimmerli and his wife, Nelly co-chaired the cash campaign for the development of the Chapman Cultural Heart. The work on the cash marketing campaign helped to elevate $36 million in non-public presents. The cultural center was portion of a $44.5 million project.
“As a chief, he gave me braveness. He was a incredible listener for me and truly aided me discuss and feel by means of the enterprise aspect of the arts. He was a excellent mentor, a very good businessman and he assisted me as a chief in a great way,” Chapman Cultural Center President and CEO Jennifer Evins said. “He supported so numerous things that were about building Spartanburg a seriously specific put.”
Zimmerli moved from Massachusetts to Spartanburg in 1970 and speedily obtained concerned in the local community.
He served on Converse’s Board of Trustees and was named a Life Trustee in 2004. He also served as chairman of both the Finance Committee and the Structures and Grounds Committee wherever he oversaw the structure and building of quite a few of the college’s facilities, like the Milliken Fantastic Arts Building.
Instruction also was a focus for Zimmerli and he supplied scholarships to pupils in the Petrie Faculty of New music and endowments for instrument repairs and was instrumental in Converse’s All-Steinway College designation in 2005. Even so, 1 of the most touching contributions Zimmerli built to the Petrie University of New music was his 50th anniversary to his spouse, Nelly — a Steinway piano, now acknowledged as the Zimmerli Steinway, which sits in the Daniel Recital Corridor.
“He is someone, I believe, who liked tunes and loved the arts and wished to make absolutely sure that the rest of the community had the possibility to experience them, and that to me was what was genuinely particular. The appreciate, in addition to the support,” said Chris Vaneman, director of the Petrie College of New music.
Vaneman claimed Zimmerli ongoing to take a robust desire in the college or university and its future, even as his wellbeing declined. Vaneman and Babcock Professor Emeritus of Piano Doug Months would pay a visit to Zimmerli regularly, to play music for him and discuss about the goings on at Converse.
“He liked talking about tunes. He relished conversing, even to the stop, about what was going on at Converse and ideas for Converse. What would be the most effective way to get the most very good pupils to Converse, and the most fantastic students finding out new music,” Vaneman explained.
Zimmerli received many honors for his work in the arts and the local community. In 2002, he was honored with the Dexter Edgar Converse Award, the college’s highest honor. He was also a recipient of the Neville Holcombe Award, the David Reid Award, and the Spartanburg Kiwanis Club’s Citizen of the Yr Award.
His mates remember him as a well-rounded gentleman with several passions.
“He truly savored playing golf and touring. He was a massive-time skier and he was an outdoorsman in the perception that he liked remaining active,” Evins reported. “I would say he was quite balanced mainly because he liked the arts he loved becoming athletic he relished staying a businessman, and he had deep friendships.”
He is survived by his wife, Nelly, daughter Kathy Zimmerli Wofford and son Mark Zimmerli.
J.F. Floyd Mortuary is managing funeral preparations. In lieu of bouquets, the spouse and children asks that memorials be built to Mates of the Petrie College of Music or Spartanburg Regional Property Treatment Hospice.
Samantha Swann addresses Spartanburg County K-12 faculties and faculties and the food items scene in downtown and outside of. She is a University of South Carolina Upstate and Greenville Technical College alumna. Get in touch with her at [email protected].