In Memoriam: Gabe Zimmerman

Gabe Zimmerman, the director of community outreach for U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, died January 8, 2011 in the shooting outside a Tucson supermarket.

Zimmerman handled thousands of issues raised by constituents out of the congresswomanโ€™s offices in Tucson and Sierra Vista, and was one of the Giffords staffers who organized many public events where voters could meet Giffords and talk to her about issues.

Co-workers say Zimmerman, who had a masterโ€™s degree in social work, cared passionately about helping people. Zimmermanโ€™s mother, Emily Nottingham, said politics was a good fit for him because it combined policy and making a difference for others.

โ€œHe had a real interest in helping people and had a real caring for social justice,โ€ Nottingham said.

Zimmerman, who was engaged, had set a wedding date for 2012.

Read the obituary on Legacy.com.