Alyson Zimmerman

Alyson Zimmerman of Charles Town, WV passed away on March 8, 2022 at the age of thirty-six.
Born in Winchester, VA on July 18, 1985, Alyson was raised in Shepherdstown, WV by her loving parents Mary Ann and Jerry Zimmerman. From an early age, Alyson displayed an enviable combination of creativity, determination, independence, and care for others. While such traits were evident from Alyson’s days of competitive soccer and swimming, they were best appreciated through her passion for the culinary arts.
Growing up, Alyson watched countless episodes of Julia Child with her mother, and as soon as her motor skills allowed, Alyson quickly became her mother’s right hand woman in the kitchen. Alyson was inspired by her mother’s extraordinary ability to create unforgettable meals for friends and family–meals that made people feel loved and left them with everlasting memories. Alyson was also mesmerized by food’s artistry and the seemingly endless possibilities for creative expression. Once Alyson’s mother told her that professional chefs actually got paid for cooking, Alyson knew her professional destiny. She would become an executive chef.
In early high school, Alyson’s culinary journey began at the Bavarian Inn–the very place where her mother and father first met decades earlier. After graduating from Jefferson High School in 2003, Alyson attended Shepherd University, earning bachelor’s degrees in both art and business administration. Throughout her schooling, Alyson continued her culinary development, working tirelessly to learn every aspect of the Bavarian Inn’s operations. Despite her demanding schedule, Alyson enjoyed spending her free time painting, photographing, and exploring nature. After nearly a decade at the Bavarian Inn, Alyson journeyed westward to continue her adventurous growth as a chef.
This journey first led her to the Rocky Mountains of Aspen, Colorado where she worked several seasons as Sous Chef at the renowned Hotel Jerome. While working in Aspen, Alyson won several culinary competitions (most notably for her rendition of her mother’s famed chocolate truffles) and developed a profound love for the surrounding mountain beauty. Despite her rigorous profession, Alyson continued to find solace in these surroundings, spending her free time hiking, snowboarding, and swimming in the mountains.
Alyson’s breakthrough culinary moment occurred in Jackson Hole, Wyoming where she became Executive Chef at the Jenny Lake Lodge–a luxury resort located within the Grand Teton National Park. While at Jenny Lake, Alyson produced extraordinary culinary journeys for the resort’s guests. Situated at the base of the Teton Range and surrounded by seemingly endless mountain lakes and hiking trails, this secluded resort was an idyllic environment for Alyson. Immersed in such natural beauty, Alyson thrived personally and professionally. By channeling her profound creativity, relentless determination, and care for others, Alyson provided her guests with the very same love and powerful memories that her mother once created.
Despite her love for the mountain west, Alyson’s heart remained in West Virginia, and she eventually returned to Shepherdstown, allowing her to spend more time with her loved ones. To her family, friends, and colleagues, Alyson is truly unforgettable. She had the perfect combination of her mother’s fierce independence and profound empathy mixed with her father’s artistic spirit and ability to teach others. Alyson will be missed by many, but her memory will undoubtedly live on through those who knew this truly amazing individual.
To celebrate Alyson’s life, an intimate gathering will be held for close friends and family.