We’ve all been into the cafeteria or auditorium when a teacher is out, and a familiar person always greets us as we come through the door. We’ve definitely heard her stories, whether directly or from across the room. That’s right: I’m talking about Ms. Zimmer, a decades-long staff member at Highland Park High School. But what is her life like beyond the school building? The Fling sat down with Ms. Zimmer to explore this very question.
Ben: As you know, a lot of people have wondered about your life and some notable events that have taken place throughout. So would you start us off by introducing yourself and giving a little background into your life?
Ms. Zimmer: Sure. I was born in 1949 in Newark, and I grew up in East Orange and went to East Orange High School. That era was the beginning of the modern-day civil rights movement, the Vietnam movement, and the women’s rights movement. There were a lot of social things that were happening.
Ben: How would you describe your parents?
Ms. Zimmer: My late father was a Montford Point Marine, and he was one of only 20,000 African American soldiers allowed to join the Marine Corps. His battalion was the recipient of the Congressional Gold Medal in WW2. My parents were both always very, very conscientious about the rights of people, so I was also involved with that.
Ben: What did you busy yourself with during school?
Ms. Zimmer: Well…I played the cello, the violin, the flute, and piccolo…I played those throughout middle and high school and attended classes at The Julliard School of Music. A few times a week, I would take the train into New York City from around 4:30 to 6:00 or 7:00 in the afternoon. There were about 3,000 students in my high school, and similar to you, I joined the newspaper and was involved in civil rights groups in my high school.
Ben: Besides music, what did you learn in these trips to and from Julliard?
Ms. Zimmer: Well, I learned about riding the subway from people my age. I also got to meet a cross-section of students…Sometimes, I was asked to play at a wedding, and I also played in a chamber ensemble.
Ben: When you were in New York, what types of people were you meeting that were different from those you met and grew up with in Newark and West Orange?
Ms. Zimmer: I met people that were very talented, and I was one of those that were talented. I graduated high school with honors in music, and I was the only person. My circle were artists, and those that were interested in the arts. […]
Ben: How would you describe your part in the civil rights movement and other movements relating to civil liberties?
Ms. Zimmer: I was always extremely conscientious about the rights of people. I was deeply affected by the Holocaust, and as a matter of fact, this year, our African American Club is going to be going to the Holocaust Museum with the Jewish Student Union on March 2. This connection was formed by my mother’s work environment, and I found out that some of my family was in fact Jewish because I did some ancestry work. […]
Ben: What organizations were you involved in?
Ms. Zimmer: I am not as active as I was in the past, but I am a member of the NAACP. I was active in the town, and up until a few years ago, I was the county committeewoman. I was always interested in local politics and some with the county. I had a childhood friend who ran for mayor and I campaigned for her.
Ben: When you were in school, were there any struggles that you had to deal with?
Ms. Zimmer: Well, I was bullied a little bit in high school, so since then I have been very adamant against bullying. I always speak out when I see it. I plan, even after retirement to champion against bullying. […]
Ben: Could you please say some closing words for our interview?
Ms. Zimmer: Sure! I just want to say that your life is all about the connections you make with people like I have done. My connections between family and people have been the best in my life and made the biggest impact.
Quotes from Ms. Zimmer have been edited for clarity.