Dr. Morton Zeman, 91 of Johns Creek, Ga
/ AJT //
Dr. Morton Zeman of Johns Creek, Ga., passed away on Dec. 9, 2013 after a long, hard fought battle with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD). He was 91. A devoted husband, loving father and generous man, Dr. Zeman touched the lives of all who met him and will be missed by all who knew him. He was born in Chicago, Ill. on Nov. 7, 1922 to Joseph Zeman and Jennie Zeman. Following his tour of duty with the United States Army during WWII where he received a Purple Heart, Dr. Zeman began his lifelong pursuit of knowledge, earning his Ph.D. in economics in 1955. In 1958, he began his 30-plus year career with IBM as a long-range planner and business analyst, eventually joining the ranks of IBM’s World Headquarters in Armonk, N.Y. During his tenure at IBM, he also taught several evening college classes, including a course in statistics at Pace University in White Plains, N.Y. Dr. Zeman married Elise Muriel Sherman on April 28, 1957 and they shared almost four and a half glorious decades together until his wife’s passing in April 2002, just two days shy of what would have been their 45th wedding anniversary. He was a tremendously dedicated husband and a wonderful father to the couple’s only daughter, Mara. As a father, he was both a teacher and a parent, never missing an opportunity to fill his daughter’s life with new and enriching experiences. After retiring from IBM in 1988 and relocating with his wife to Atlanta, Dr. Zeman continued to pursue his lifelong quest for knowledge and enlightenment. He decided to share his passion for the dissemination of ideas and the expansion of the intellect by joining the civic organization, Perimeter Adult Learning Services (PALS). He served as the President of PALS Program Planning Committee for several years and spent a total of 19 years in service with the organization, both as an executive and as a lecturer. Always giving of himself, Dr. Zeman spent over a decade caring for the needs of his ailing wife, until her passing in 2002. Dr. Zeman spent his final years enriching the lives of fellow residents and staff of The Cohen Home assisted living facility in Johns Creek. Reprising his role as lecturer, he researched topics for and led a weekly current events discussion group until November 2013. His efforts earned him a glowing write-up in the community newspaper, The Atlanta Jewish Times, in January 2012. Dr. Zeman is preceded in death by his wife, Elise Sherman Zeman and his sister, Zena Benda (formerly Zeman). He is survived by his daughter, Mara L. Zeman of Reston, Va.; daughter-in-law, April M. Kellar of Reston, Va.; brother-in-law, Ray Sherman of Ann Arbor, MI; brother-in-law, David Benda of Atlanta; nephew, Gerald A. Benda of Atlanta; niece, Gail L. Benda of Dana Point, Calif.; and grand nephews, Eric J. Benda and Darren H. Benda of Atlanta. A memorial service was held, December 12 at 1 p.m. at Southcare Funeral and Cremation Society , 2260 Old Milton Parkway, Alpharetta, Ga. Family will begin receiving visitors at 12 p.m., at the same location.In lieu of flowers, the family requests that charitable donations be made in memory of Dr. Zeman, to the American Lung Association (www.lung.org) or to The Cohen Home (www.cohenhome.org). Arrangements by SouthCare Cremation & Funeral Society in Alpharetta, Ga. (678) 735-5500.
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