ZIMMERMAN

SCOTT F.

Scott F. Zimmerman, a longtime Aspinwall resident, passed away peacefully, on January 11, 2026. Father of Martha Lightfoot and Sarah Tuthill, both of Aspinwall; and grandfather "Poppy" to four grandchildren, Alison and Duncan Lightfoot and Lydia and Edie Tuthill. He was preceded in death by his wife, Judith (Judy) K. Zimmerman; and his parents, Louise Scott and Franklin P. Zimmerman.

Scott was born on June 16, 1935, in Pittsburgh, PA. At age eight, his family moved to Beaver, where he graduated from Beaver High School. He served as a medical corpsman in the U.S. Army from 1954 to 1956, stationed in Salzburg, Austria, and Vicenza, Italy. He met Judy while attending Westminster College, where he majored in chemistry and political science. They married in 1960 and moved to Ann Arbor, where Scott attended the University of Michigan Law School.

After law school, they moved to Pittsburgh, where he began practicing law at Reed Smith Shaw & McClay, later Reed Smith. A partner there for 45 years, Scott was widely respected for his integrity, intellect, and leadership. He served for several years as head of the firm's labor and employment practice and chaired its hiring committee. Scott argued a case before the Supreme Court of the United States in 1974 and was honored with the firm's Shaw's Lion Award for Outstanding Achievement in the Practice of Law. He also spent several years sharing his expertise as a professor of Labor Economics at Carnegie Mellon University.

Scott worked tirelessly throughout his career, and while that dedication often meant long hours away from home, his love for his family was never in question. He treasured annual family vacations with the "Brown Baggers," life-long friends he and Judy made in law school, as well as spring ski trips to Vail and summers in Chautauqua.

In retirement, and after the loss of his wife in 2005, he became a steady presence in the lives of his four grandchildren, taking them on family adventures to Montana, Colorado, and the Jersey Shore. Education mattered deeply to Scott, and his generosity in supporting their journeys and pursuits was one of the many ways he showed his love.

His motto was "go for it," which became part of our family's vernacular. In fact, Scott was a bit of an adrenaline junkie, be it rafting through the Grand Canyon, deep-sea diving with sharks in the Cayman Islands, or helicopter skiing in the Canadian Rockies. Another source of adrenaline was his beloved Pittsburgh sports teams. He was fanatical about the Steelers, Pirates, Penguins, and Pitt football and basketball.

Always in search of the fountain of youth, Scott was deeply committed to health and exercise. He was an avid runner and enjoyed his weight training group well into his 80s.

He also loved golf and spent countless hours trying to perfect his game at Longue Vue Club, where he was a devoted member. Skiing, however, was his true passion. After retiring, he spent several winters living in Vail, CO, where he could be found chasing fresh powder and long groomers on bluebird days. He liked to proudly boast that he skied 80 days the winter he turned 80.

We will remember him for his incredible work ethic, strong convictions, great smile, positive outlook on life, and, most of all, for the way he always made sure his family was cared for.

A Celebration of his Life will be held on Tuesday, March 17, at 2 p.m., at Calvary Episcopal Church, 315 Shady Avenue, Shadyside. In lieu of flowers, the family would appreciate memorials to The Chautauqua Foundation, P.O. Box 28, One Ames Ave., Chautauqua, NY 14722 (www.chq.org/giving)

Arrangements by WEDDELL-AJAK FUNERAL HOME.