Seymour "Zeke" Zimbler, MD
April 18, 1934 - February 14, 2021
Seymour “Zeke” Zimbler sadly passed away unexpectedly at home on Feb. 14. His resume is a string of superlatives, many unknown because Zeke, humble to a fault, would never mention them. Renamed “Zeke” by a baseball coach who thought it more appropriate than Seymour for a quick handed infielder, he was valedictorian of his high school class and a New Jersey all-state basketball star. Recruited to play at Columbia University he chose the University of Michigan for timing issues. Forced to quit the team when his premed laboratories conflicted with practice, Zeke completed the required studies in 2.5 years, entered medical school at SUNY Upstate Medical Center and graduated AOA. At Syracuse, he met and married Enid, with whom he shared his life. They would have three children: Brian, Andrew, and Taffy. He trained in the Harvard Combined Orthopaedic Program where he was Chief Resident at Boston Children’s Hospital. As a Lieutenant Commander at the U.S. Naval Hospital, Charleston, SC, he was dispatched with a marine unit to the Dominican Republic during civil war and was awarded the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal. Upon return to Boston he was appointed Orthopaedic Surgeon-in-Chief at the Beth Israel Hospital; during his stewardship the department began its affiliation with the Harvard Medical School. In 1970 he was recruited by Dr. Henry Banks to start a pediatric orthopaedic service at Tufts New England Medical Center; he single handedly created a large academic department which included 5 full time pediatric orthopaedists. He was promoted to Clinical Professor and served as Acting Chairman of Orthopaedic Surgery. He later moved to the Massachusetts General Hospital and then ended his career where it began — Boston Children’s Hospital.
Zeke authored numerous publications and delivered many national and international presentations, but his main commitments were to patient care and student and resident education. His kindness, integrity and dedication were legendary. There was no limit to the efforts he would make to insure the best possible care for his patients. Midnight rounds with a flashlight to check circulation, Sunday cast changes and overnight nursing duties when the scheduled nurse failed to appear are some of the endless examples. He was absolutely dedicated to teaching which he did at all hours in a kind and patient manner. All understood he was on their side, and essentially all his trainees will claim he was their most important, inspirational and beloved role model and mentor. For colleagues there was always sage advice. Sitting next to him at a national meeting was a treat; he provided instantaneous, astute analysis and often the “real story” behind the research. The Seymour Zimbler Traveling fellowship was endowed by his many devoted former patients, students and colleagues.
When sharing Zeke stories, patients, trainees, and colleagues who think they had a special relationship with this wonderful, gentle man are bemused to discover that everyone else feels the same. He was a unique, caring individual. Those privileged to have known Zeke will miss him, and will always remember him. We send condolences to his family and thank them for sharing him with us.