‘Mr. Zippy,’ beloved school bus driver, dies at 68

Dec. 08--The Zippy Express has reached its final stop.

Frederick County Public Schools bus driver Alan Zoberbier, known as "Mr. Zippy" by his students and colleagues, died Dec. 2 of a blood infection, according to his wife, Donna. He was 68.

The Frederick resident decided to try driving buses after retiring from a 28-year career as an Avemco Insurance executive. He was assigned his first route in 2003 and "absolutely fell in love," Donna Zoberbier said.

But he wanted a nickname.

"'If P. Diddy can be P. Diddy and Jennifer Lopez can be J. Lo, I can be Zippy,'" his daughter Carri Kessler recalled her father thinking. He didn't want people adding "mister," but the title of respect stuck.

Zoberbier was a star; the bus was his stage. Students adored his collection of more than 200 silly hats, from an elephant to an Indian headdress in honor of the Washington Redskins.

Family members didn't know how the hats began or which was his first, but Donna Zoberbier said Spongebob Squarepants and a flowerpot were among his favorites.

Zoberbier's jokes and trivia during bus rides made him a county celebrity, though he saw most children only briefly as a substitute driver. The school system honored him in 2011 as Transportation Employee of the Year.

Students shared the news of his death on social media and called him the best bus driver ever for his humor and kindness. One thanked him for brightening her days, while others posted pictures of the costumes.

"Just think. Mr. Zippy is driving his bus into heaven, making god laugh with his crazy hats," Twitter user @cheyanne_cheer said.

Kessler called her father a "kid magnet," genuine and the life of the party.

"This is a Zoberbier trait," she said. "He loved attention."

He once saw an old limousine and decided to buy it, even when family and friends tried to change his mind. He used it as his everyday car -- when a family friend gave birth to her daughter, Zoberbier drove them home from the hospital in the limo.

He owned about 100 neckties, his family said. If the tie played music, it was even better. And for Christmas, their front yard had so many lights, Zoberbier said you could see it from space.

He also adored the Redskins and rarely missed watching a game, no matter how bad the team became.

Military service and patriotism remained important to Zoberbier, who served as a firefighter in the U.S. Air Force from 1964 to 1968. He finished his time in the Washington area and liked it so much he decided to stay, his wife said.

Zoberbier was a member of the American Legion Francis Scott Key Post 11 and president of its TLC Club, where veterans share war stories over drinks once a week. He also belonged to AMVETS Post 2 and Veterans of Foreign Wars of the U.S.

He most enjoyed camping, gambling in football pools and spending time with family. Kessler said she learned unconditional love from her father.

His first marriage, to the mother of both children, ended in divorce after six years. He then married Donna in 1986, and the two worshiped each other, Kessler said.

His son Dan credits Zoberbier with teaching him how to be a great dad.

"He would give me tough love if I needed it, and support if I needed it," Dan Zoberbier said.

Like the students who rode his bus, his family fondly recalled Mr. Zippy's unique personality, penchant for bad jokes and wacky accessories.

So what will become of the hats? The family isn't sure, but they might donate them to a children's hospital.

"Wherever they'll make people smile," Kessler said.

Follow Rachel S. Karas on Twitter: @rachelkaras.

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