Sheila Zimmerman

January 23, 1939 - February 20, 2020

Sheila Zimmerman passed away peacefully surrounded by her family on 2/20/2020. Sheila grew up in Ontario, California where she met her future husband at a USO dance at March Air Force Base. They were soon married and moved to San Luis Obispo where her husband attended Cal Poly University to study architecture, and she worked as a secretary at the school office. After graduation, they decided to settle in Santa Barbara where she was an active member of the community for over 50 years. Sheila and her late husband of 57 years, Jim, raised their family in SB and were very active in the Santa Barbara Yacht Club where they enjoyed sailing and everything that SB had to offer. Sheila graduated from UCSB and earned her master’s degree in psychology and worked as a school counselor and in private practice for many years. She dedicated herself to volunteering and was involved in school fundraising and multiple charities of which include Laguna Blanca School, Girls Inc., Calm and the S.B. Museum of Art. She was very proud of her work at Girls Inc. where she served on the board as well as board president. She and her husband were very instrumental in the capital campaign and in the building of the Girls Inc. newer facility on Hollister Ave. Sheila was passionate about raising girls up and teaching them that they could do anything no matter their circumstances, and to always be Strong, Smart and Bold. Sheila was a loving mother and grandmother and enjoyed spending time with her grandchildren at the zoo and the beach, as well as summers on their boat in Catalina with the family. She will be greatly missed by all her friends and family that knew and loved her. We take great comfort in the fact that she is at peace and that she has reunited with our dad and her true love, Jim. She is survived by her son, Brian Zimmerman, his wife Barbi and their children Cuyler and Caylin. Her daughter, Elaine Zimmerman-Roche, her husband Kieran and their children Connor and Declan. Her niece Pamela Sanchez, her husband Sergio Sanchez and their children Jamie and Hailee. The funeral mass will be held at the Old Mission Santa Barbara on Friday, February 28, 10:00 am with burial to follow at Santa Barbara Cemetery.