George Zima, EdD, Class of 1945

George Zima is remembered by his Taft classmates as a tumbler and cheerleader the year Taft won the city football championship, and as a member of “Pops” Rapier’s band. He was in ROTC, participated on the Swim Team and in the senior class play. He was vice president of his class.

When he left Taft, George attended Wright College, Northwestern University (bachelor’s and master’s degrees) and Teachers College at Columbia University (EdD). His first career was as an educator, teaching physical education, in grade school classrooms and as an elementary school principal.

A second career called him to the stage, as an actor and a dancer, a stuntman and choreographer. On Broadway George appeared in famous productions: “Pal Joey,” “Milk and Honey,” “Gypsy,” “Lii Abner,” and “Most Happy Fella.” He would appear on Mary Martin’s televised classic “Peter Pan,” on "Captain Kangaroo" for seven years, on “Naked City” and “Sesame Street” and variety shows from “Ed Sullivan” and “Perry Como” to “Jackie Gleason” and “Red Skelton.” He made commercials and TV pilots, Army training films, worked in industrial shows and supper clubs and vaudeville, summer stock musicals and community theater.

George lives in Winfield, Illinois.  He has three children, two stepchildren and numerous grandchildren. Current activities of this retiree include a staff job at Sportsmed Health Club, karate, golf, skiing, bowling and barbershop chorus.  He stunned audiences in the community theater's 2002 production of "Lucky Stiff" by cart wheeling offstage and says he can still do one at age 80. He also leads the Wheaton Park District's Snappy Tappers for people 50 and older. And several years ago, he took up karate and earned a brown belt.