Zima, William J. 1922-2012

ZIMA, SEFCIK

Posted By: Volunteer Transcriber
Date: 3/28/2021 at 13:08:12

William J. Zima
1922-2012
Thousand Oaks, CA
Formerly of Des Moines

William J. Zima, longtime Iowa journalist and journalism educator, died Friday, January 20, 2012, at the Weiss Residential Care Facility in Thousand Oaks, CA. He was 89.

Bill, as he was known to colleagues and thousands of journalism students, worked 19 years at the Des Moines Register and Tribune, and later 25 years as a faculty member at the University of Iowa School of Journalism and Mass Communication.

"Bill was your old-fashioned, hard-nosed journalist and a demanding teacher," said Kenneth Starck, a former colleague at the University of Iowa. "Students complained that his standards were too high. Then they graduated, went to work and discovered they had learned something to be grateful for."

Many of his students went on to join the staffs of media such as Newsweek, the Wall Street Journal and the Los Angeles Times as well as news media throughout Iowa.

Zima was born December 16, 1922, in Chicago. In 1947, he graduated from Carthage College and in 1948 received at MA degree from the University of Iowa.

During WWII, he served in the United States Navy as the communications officer aboard the USS Gunason (DE795) in both the Atlantic and Pacific.

From 1948-1956, he was variously a copy editor, reporter, assistant city editor and state editor at the Des Moines Register and its then afternoon newspaper, The Des Moines Tribune. For ten years, 1957-1967, he was a member of the award-winning editorial page staff of The Des Moines Register.

In 1967, he joined the journalism faculty at The University of Iowa. In addition to teaching, he served three years as publisher of the University newspaper, The Daily Iowan. Zima also served in a variety of administrative positions, including associate director (1980-1985), head of undergraduate studies and acting director (1982-1983). In 1980 and 1987, he led a group of students on a semester study program in London at City University. He retired from the Iowa Faculty in 1992. He and wife, Jaynane, moved to Newbury Park, CA in 1997.

Zima is survived by Jaynane; a daughter, Elizabeth of Elk Grove, CA; a grandson, Nathan J. Zima of Michigan and a brother, George, of Wisconsin.

Preceding him in death were a son, Andrew W. Zima; his parents, John Zima and Elizabeth (Sefcik) Zima; and two brothers, Richard and John.

The family asks that any memorial donations be made to The University of Iowa School of Journalism and Mass Communication through The University of Iowa Foundation, Iowa City, Iowa.

To Plant Memorial Trees in memory, please visit our Sympathy Store. ~ The Des Moines (IA) Register 12 Feb 2012.