Helen W.B. Zimmermann Obituary

Helen W. B. Zimmermann of Saunderstown, RI, passed away quietly in her sleep on November 29, 2018. She was the beloved wife of Richard Z. Zimmermann, Jr., of Philadelphia, PA, for 68 years, until his passing in 2015.
Born on July 27, 1921, in New York City, Helen was the daughter of two doctors: Sanger Brown II, MD, and Helen Smith Brown, MD. After her mother died in childbirth, Helen was raised by her mother's friends, Constance, Alice, and Georgina Biddle, and their mother, Mrs. George Biddle, of Philadelphia, PA and Saunderstown, RI.
Helen developed an interest in Quakers when she attended Germantown Friends School in Philadelphia. Later in life she studied non-violence and volunteered for the American Friends Service Committee.
Helen graduated from Vassar College in 1943, majoring in Greek. She then worked in propaganda for the Office of Strategic Services (OSS), an intelligence agency of the US government during WWII. Then she worked in New York City until she married in 1947.
Helen was very proud of teaching creative writing at the Alternative West High School outside Philadelphia, and of self-publishing her own book for children, the AlphaBestiary.
Helen and Richard had three children. They were predeceased by Richard Christian Zimmermann, who passed away suddenly in 1968. They are survived by son Charles F. Zimmermann and his wife Inese of Riga, Latvia; and daughter Helen (Nellie) Sabin and her husband Bob of Newport, RI. Helen also leaves five grandchildren and two great-grandchildren: Kate Wiggin (Sam) and their son Everett, Eleanor Sabin, Alice Zimmermann (Alex Evans), Betsy Bullard (Madison), and R. Schuyler Sabin (Molly) and their son, Ronan.
A private graveside service in Jamestown, R.I., is planned. In Helen's memory, please consider a donation to Hope Hospice & Palliative Care of RI, 1085 North Main Street, Providence, RI 02904.