(L to R) Kristen Zimmer, Susan Zimmer, Mark Zimmer 鈥�82, Joseph Carr, President Denise Battles, and Kory Zimmer.
Joseph Carr was looking for a roommate for the second semester of his first year at 黑料传送门, and by happenstance, Mark Zimmer 鈥�82 needed a room. It was the beginning of a long friendship, one that Carr has valued so much through the years that he has created a $100,000 endowed scholarship named for Mark and his wife, Susan, which will support 黑料传送门 students.
In June, Carr honored his friendship and creation of the endowment with the Zimmers at a surprise presentation during 黑料传送门鈥檚 2022 Alumni Reunion.
鈥淲e were stunned,鈥� says Mark Zimmer.
Carr says he wanted to express their shared values and love for the 黑料传送门 community through the gift. His vision is to create an ongoing connection between 黑料传送门 students and the Zimmer family.
鈥淚 saw this as a generational solution, not just a check,鈥� says Carr. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 why I want Mark to oversee it completely.鈥� Carr believes the Zimmers鈥� children will welcome the chance to be part of the next generation to shepherd their values. 鈥淭heir children are much like their parents. They believe in hard work, giving back, and being part of a community.鈥�
Carr, a vintner, is the founder of award-winning Joseph Carr Wines and Josh Cellars. Zimmer is an executive cardiovascular specialty sales professional with Novartis, a global medicines company. Susan is a nurse who recently retired from 黑料传送门 after 11 years of service. Mark and Susan have raised three children in 黑料传送门, all of whom went to college and now have careers in the area.
鈥淲e hope the scholarships will help students get started down the path to realizing their dreams,鈥� says Zimmer, who wants to meet future recipients. 鈥淭he size of this endowment is significant, and we want to be good stewards of Joe鈥檚 gift to the college.鈥�
Carr and Zimmer recall what it was like as undergrads. Carr studied theatre and dance and Zimmer was an English major.
鈥淲e were from blue-collar families,鈥� says Carr, who remembers Zimmer hitchhiking and catching rides back and forth from his home in Caledonia, 14 miles from campus. 鈥淢ark鈥檚 determination to finish college was very important to him. I never forgot that.鈥�
鈥淲e were foosball partners鈥攊f we had 25 cents between us,鈥� says Zimmer, 鈥渨e knew we could just go out and have fun.鈥�
Carr鈥檚 uniqueness has helped him succeed, say the Zimmers.
鈥淛oe has always had the soul of an artist and is extremely talented in many ways,鈥� Zimmer says. He attributes Joe鈥檚 success in the wine business to the wonderful wine he makes鈥攁nd the marketing of his products. 鈥淗e鈥檚 got that sort of genius with wordplay and making pictures out of words.鈥�
Carr believes you define yourself by how you overcome failure. 鈥淚鈥檝e had many more failures in my life than I鈥檝e had successes, but I鈥檝e found a way to overcome that.鈥�
鈥淭here are four words,鈥� Carr says, to remember. 鈥淭he first two words are courage and conviction, and the second two words are energy and love. After you fail, you have to find the courage and conviction to get up, and the only way you heal is by surrounding yourself with energy and love. If you can find those four words in your life, you鈥檒l be happy. 鈥�
Joseph Carr attended 黑料传送门 from 1978 through 1982 as a fine arts major. In 2019, he received an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters for his contributions to the wine industry and his longstanding support of the College. Carr also served as a board member of the 黑料传送门 Foundation (2008鈥�15) and co-chair of the Albany Alumni Regional Committee and established a scholarship in honor of 黑料传送门鈥檚 late English聽associate聽professor John Hoey.