Acts of 'Kindness' Recall Billy Zimmermann

As Easter Sunday approaches, Basking Ridge remains filled with blue ribbons signifying support and love for the Zimmermann family, whose son, Billy, lost in a tragic accident while on a spring break in Mexico, would have turned 20 years old that day.

The blue ribbons were made at a gathering of local mothers who reportedly used about 2,000 yards of local ribbons made from the color blue. The blue color signifies the colors of the two schools he attended, Villanova University in Pennsylvania and Seton Hall Prepatory School in West Orange.

The first ribbons were placed along utility poles and on mailboxes before Zimmermann was laid to rest following a funeral Mass at St. James Church on March 12.

Meanwhile, the young man's obituary said that a scholarship has been established in memory of Billy Zimmermann at Seton Hall Prep. Please send donations to Seton Hall Prep, 120 Northfield Ave, West Orange, NJ, 07052 in memory of Billy Zimmermann, Class of 2011.

HeartWorks also memorializes Zimmerman this weekend

An "Acts of Kindness" weekend has been set up in honor of Zimmermann and his family by HeartWorks, a Basking Ridge and Bernardsville organization founded by Bernardsville resident Megan McDowell following the death of a family member in the World Trade Center attack in 2001.

McDowell said that HeartWorks, which reaches out to area families who are having hard times or experiencing a crisis, has many members who know the Zimmermann family.

She said that people sometimes don't know what to say to those who have lost a loved one, and HeartWorks has set up a Facebook page where people can express support and record "acts of kindness" in honor of Billy Zimmermann and his family.