There are no amount of words that can sum up a person's life. No amount of words can fully describe the beautiful people that we love. But with stories, photos, videos, and memories, we can try to paint a small picture of who they are. Isaac had an incredible life. This is only a small glimpse into that life, and by no means the whole story, of our incredible son, brother, partner, nephew, grandson, cousin, and friend.
About Isaac
5/31/1996 - 1/14/2024
His first word was "moon," and we love him to the moon and back.
Isaac William Zimmern died on January 14th, 2024 as the result of a tragic aircraft accident near Half Moon Bay, California. He passed away alongside his longtime partner Pearl Willmer-Shiles, as well as two other beautiful, young people, Cassidy Petit and Lochie Ferrier.
Isaac, a German-American dual national, born in San Francisco on May 31st, 1996, grew up in San Francisco among a group of loving families who decided to raise their kids together. From Little People’s Workshop in Bernal Heights for toddlers to the Noe Valley Nursery School Co-Op, he was surrounded by kids his age with whom he and his younger sister Anna bonded for life. He was a bundle of joy - our “Buddha baby” - full of humor and curiosity, sometimes a master negotiator to try and get his way, and sweetly mischievous. His educational years continued via the SF public school system, first Rooftop Middle School and then Lowell High School, before he went on to study economics and computer science at UC Santa Cruz, where he graduated in 2020.
In 2014, their senior year of high school, Isaac asked Pearl to go to the prom with him and she agreed. Their relationship continued to grow from there, and the relationship shaped his life for the following decade. They created a bond that seemed to shine more brightly with each passing year. Isaac was devoted to her. After having spent a couple of exciting years in Brooklyn in a shared house with close friends nurtured in San Francisco, they decided to have their first apartment together in Cambridge, MA where they hosted both old and new friends, and prepared for their future together. Pearl had started a Masters in Architecture program at MIT while Isaac worked for Burrow, a furniture company in NY.
Isaac’s work career was marked by a diversity of roles that spanned education, sports, housing, and furniture. His journey started in teaching and coaching, evolved through various internships and administrative positions, and culminated in operational roles. Isaac's various professional experiences reflected his adaptability contributing uniquely to each field he ventured into.
Isaac loved life. Frequently biking, swimming, walking, and running, he found joy in spending time in parks, going to museums, and eating good food. Eating was a pastime for Isaac, good food and finding inspiring restaurants was a talent of his. Over the past few years, Isaac had rekindled a passion for running resulting in Pearl and himself completing a full marathon in October of 2023. He always chose to do things that connected him to people, food, culture, and the natural world. He also loved traveling, especially internationally, and enjoyed his many trips to Hamburg, Germany seeing his beloved grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins.
Isaac’s passions were numerous. Isaac immersed himself in sports and diligently followed his favorite Bay Area teams, including the SF Giants, 49ers, and Warriors. He researched team histories, collected stats, and followed individual player’s careers. Isaac was never shy to overwhelm his friends with his in-depth knowledge and prognoses of future game outcomes. Isaac was also an enthusiastic athlete in his own right, having played soccer, baseball, and basketball through middle and high school.
He also attempted to acquire musical skills - especially the guitar - which led him to perform on stage at Bimbo's in SF with Los Lobos and Trombone Shorty - thanks to Blue Bear Music. He also embraced music by making playlists of artists he appreciated and then sharing his unique compilations with friends and family which gave him great joy and created a large group of thankful listeners.
Isaac was a kind man who cared deeply for his partner Pearl and for his friends and family. His circle of close friends reached from his toddler years to the present. To know Isaac was to feel his warmth, unique humor, and loyalty. He always found ways to see the best in everyone.
Isaac leaves behind a heartbroken family including his parents Sharon and Johann, sister Anna, and grandfather Dr. Friedrich-Carl Zimmern as well as numerous aunts, uncles, cousins, friends, and extended family in the US and Europe.
We will always love him to the moon and back.