Phi Sigma Kappa hosted their fifth annual Zilly Jam on Saturday, Feb. 25 to honor their late brother Billy Zimmermann who tragically passed away during the spring of 2013. Campus Corner’s infamous Zilly Fries were plentiful, and a lively spirit filled the room. 

The Zimmerman family and fraternity hosted a capella groups, bands and singers in the Villanova Room in honor of Billy and to raise money for Villanova’s Billy Zimmermann Memorial Scholarship.   

Billy’s younger siblings, Shawn and Shannon Zimmermann, class of 2020 attend Villanova, following in-line with their older brother and father’s footsteps. Shawn described his brother Billy as someone who “loved to celebrate life.” This annual concert allows Billy’s family and the Villanova community to remember the positive energy and zest for life that he radiated. This fundraiser is one of many ways the fraternity commemorates the impact Billy had and continues to have on his brothers and community.   

Performances from the evening included a capella by Vocal Minority, Nothing but Treble, The Haveners, songs from TBD Music and a special performance by the Dirty Dogs— Phi Sig’s finest. Each group or individual dedicated their performance to Billy and honored the spirit which lives on today. 

A documentary Live Like Billy, produced and directed by some of Billy’s closest friends and fraternity brothers, was aired at the beginning of the event to remind attendees of the great life Billy Zimmermann lived and his carried-out legacy.   

Along with the Billy Zimmermann Memorial Scholarship at Villanova, the Billy Zimmermann Scholarship was established at Seton Hall Preparatory School, his alma mater. In addition to both of these, the Billy Zimmermann Foundation Endowed Scholarship was established at Villanova in 2015 to provide financial support to students from New Jersey who demonstrate financial need. These scholarships hope to keep Billy’s contagious spirit and love for  the community alive on campus.   

The brothers of Phi Sigma Pi stress the simple but profound message of #LiveLikeBilly. “#LiveLikeBilly is to show how to be that person who opens their eyes to the way Billy saw the world,” his father, Bud Zimmermann, said.

Billy Zimmermann embodied the unconditional love alive in Villanova’s core value of caritas: he loved all and was loved by all. Greatly missed but never forgotten, Billy Zimmermann will be forever alive in hearts and always loved as students aim to love like Billy and #LiveLikeBilly every day.