He was a teacher, a giver and also a proud father.

He possessed a deep smile, big heart, great voice and a deep affection for Penn State.

These are only some of the words that friends and family used to describe the late Robert Zimmerman.

More than 500 family members and friends gathered in the State Theatre Friday afternoon for the memorial service of the former Penn State professor and adviser to The Lion 90.7 FM.

Zimmerman died last Monday from an allergic reaction to his medication. He is survived by his wife, Jane, his son, Andrew, and his daughter, Laura.

"I have never met anyone who is like or reminds me of Bob Zimmerman. He was one-of-a-kind," said Doug Anderson, dean of the College of Communications.

Zimmerman graduated from Penn State in 1958 with a degree in journalism and returned to work as a communications professor and adviser to The Lion.

"He supported student radio with a zeal unmatched by any Penn State alum," Anderson said.

Zimmerman worked at various radio stations during his career, including stations in DuBois and Johnstown. It was in Johnstown that he met his wife to whom he had been married to for 45 years.

"He was always very involved in the community, and he got even more involved with Penn State radio. He was helping generations of students learn about broadcasting," said Kevin Nelson, employee of WRSC, one of the 10 radio stations Zimmerman owned.

Nelson said Zimmerman taught him the importance of getting started on a job right away and doing it to the best of his ability.

He said when he worked for other radio stations, they were always appreciative of the quick and accurate work he did.

Nelson said he came back to WRSC to work for Zimmerman because of the way he ran the station and the valuable lessons he learned from him through the years.

"I hope he knows what he meant to me and how I'm a better broadcaster because of him," Nelson said.

Zimmerman was just as meticulous and inspiring in the classroom, Anderson said.

"Semester after semester his student evaluations would be among the best out of all the professors in the College of Communications," Anderson said.

Anderson recalled a time when Zimmerman showed him a textbook he was going to use for his class that was all marked up and highlighted, showing how thoroughly Zimmerman read through it.

"Almost on every page would be an arrow with the words 'insert Z philosophy here'," Anderson said.

Zimmerman will be remembered by friends and family, for his passion and for always giving back to the community.

He served on the College of Communications Alumni Board and was a past president of the Pennsylvania Association of Broadcasters.

In addition, Zimmerman was a founding board member of the State Theatre.

Others who gave tributes at the funeral were grandson Dylan Sogor and Andrew, his son.

"I'll always remember my grandfather when I hear a Frank Sinatra song," said Sogor, after a band played a medley of Sinatra songs, including "My Way" and "I've Got You Under My Skin."

The service concluded with a medley of songs led by The Singing Lions, which included Penn State's Alma Mater.

"I could go on and on with many more stories; there certainly has been a lot of living in the past 73 years," said Rev. George A. Burn, director of pastoral care at Mount Nittany Medical Center.