Barry Lee Zimmerman peacefully came to the end of his days on August 5, 2026, in Jenkintown, Pennsylvania, following a three-month illness. Born February 5, 1932, he grew up in Pottsville, Pennsylvania with his parents Jacob and Henrietta (Tobias) Zimmerman, who had moved there from Lithuania and Philadelphia, respectively, and his brothers Mark and Robert. An excellent student, Barry graduated from Pottsville High School as valedictorian. Barry then studied at the University of Pennsylvania, where he earned a BS and a PhD in electrical engineering, as well as an MBA, and entered the field of computer science in its earliest days. Barry’s work began in 1955 on teams designing memory components for airborne digital computers and then information retrieval systems for the Navy. His 1971 dissertation concerned computer-generated chemical structural diagrams. His career included decades at Merck and at RCA (later Lockheed Martin) designing simulators for the AEGIS Naval Combat System.

While Barry continued to experiment in programming throughout his life, he was even more fascinated by the people with whom he interacted. Every person who had a chance to talk with Barry enjoyed his complete attention, generous compassion, witty humor and impeccable memory. This included casual interactions with people he met in day-to-day life and every friend or relative.

Barry’s nieces, nephew and their families were immensely fortunate to grow up with an adoring uncle and great-uncle who granted them unconditional love and loyal attendance at many life steps. Barry deeply appreciated family relationships and caring connections. He encouraged a tradition of “cousin parties” to strengthen ties between his generation and the next.

The second half of Barry’s life included two loving partnerships – first with Rose Kibrick Katz, from 1987 until her death in 2008, and then the past sixteen years with Ruth Kapp Hartz, both of whom had previously been widowed. These relationships greatly expanded Barry’s family and his experiences.

Barry embraced Rose’s and Ruth’s friends and cousins, children and grandchildren, for whom he became a beloved grandfather. He enjoyed travels with them. He volunteered with the Holocaust Oral Archives, transcribing survivors’ oral histories, and accompanied Ruth on her speaking engagements and work honoring her rescuers in France.

Barry was predeceased by his parents, brothers and Rose.

He is survived by Ruth and her children: Diane Warsoff, husband Arthur and children Jordan (Shirley) and Sarai (Shobik); and Eric Hartz, wife Jennifer and children Jessica (Aaron), Samantha, Melinda and Ethan.

He is also survived by Rose’s children: Joan Betesh and children David, Hannah and Rachel; Stephen Katz and children Daniel and Elana; and James Katz and children Michael, Lauren and David.

Barry will be dearly missed by his nieces and nephew: Pam (Lauren Cook), Emily (Jay Wussow), Erica (Kevin McCollister) and Micah Zimmerman (Rachael Katz); and his great-nephews and great-nieces: Ethan and Nadia McCollister and Jacob and Nina Zimmerman.

To honor Barry’s memory, please give someone your uncompromising attention, listen extra patiently to more people’s stories, and consider donating to Project Avary (projectavary.org), the Holocaust Awareness and Education Center (HAMEC), or Keneseth Israel Synagogue in Elkins Park, PA.

Barry will be buried on Sunday, August 9 at 11 AM at Montefiore Cemetery in Jenkintown. A celebration of life will follow in the fall.