Law School Mourns the Passing of Bucky Zimmerman ’72

Charles Selcer “Bucky” Zimmerman ’72—nationally known litigator, founder of the law firm Zimmerman Reed, and a dedicated supporter of the Law School—passed away Feb. 24 at his home in Scottsdale, Arizona, after a short battle with cancer. He was 72.

Born and raised in Minneapolis, Zimmerman attended West High School and earned his undergraduate and law degrees at the University of Minnesota. He formed Zimmerman Reed in 1983 in Minneapolis; the firm now also has offices in Phoenix and Los Angeles and practices in the areas of consumer protection, antitrust, sports law, and defective drugs and medical devices, among others.

During his 47-year career as a litigator, Zimmerman’s legal insights and courtroom skills brought him accolades from clients, colleagues, opponents, and judges. Outside the courtroom, Zimmerman was a talented athlete—a member of the Professional Tennis Association, he was nationally ranked and medaled at the World Maccabiah Games in Israel—as well as an avid golfer, dancer, motorcyclist, and world traveler. In addition to his generous donations to the Law School, he was a proud supporter of University of Minnesota Athletics as well. In the last decade of his life, Zimmerman devoted time to actively sharing his legal expertise, frequently lecturing to professional associations and, as an adjunct professor at the Law School, finding great satisfaction in teaching and mentoring those just entering the legal profession.