Bruce Zimmerman, a former president of IBEW Local 48, died April 27 at Legacy Good Samaritan Hospital in Portland following a long battle with pancreatic cancer. He was 70.
Zimmerman was assistant director at the NECA-IBEW Electrical Training Center in Northeast Portland from 1991 until his retirement in October 2011. Prior to that, he worked for West Side Electric.
He served as president of IBEW Local 48 from 2004 to 2007. He also served on several electrical boards, most recently chairing the board of the IBEW and United Workers Federal Credit Union.
In 2008, Zimmerman and union brothers Jeff Hawkins and Bob Palandech went on a humanitarian trip to Peru with Health Bridges International, a Portland-based nonprofit. There, they helped local Peruvians revamp the electrical system at a health care clinic.
Bruce Neal Zimmerman was born June 16, 1944, in Portland. He graduated from Cleveland High School in 1962. He went on to study mathematics and play football at Portland State University, where he received his Master’s degree.
An avid sportsman, Zimmerman met his wife, Kathy Weber, at a softball game, and they married Feb. 11, 1981.
He is survived by his wife; daughters Ruthie Smith and Elizabeth Zimmerman; two grandchildren; and brother Gary.
