March 20, 2025

By Dave Scheiber 

Step into the South Tampa home of Pete and Cynthia Zinober and the classical musical soundtrack of their life becomes instantly evident.

A well-worn piano that belonged to Pete’s mother anchors a cozy room to the right; vintage brass instruments cast a soft glow from various corners. Pete proudly displays the 1892 valve trombone he bought for a steal on eBay for $300, as well as a 1920 Conn Wonder cornet and a 1926 double-bell euphonium. Prominently displayed is a Miraphone euphonium, with which he performs as principal euphonium in the Eastern Hillsborough Community Band and the Tampa Community Band.

That is, when he is not immersed in his international labor law career, handling cases at every level, including 11 before the U.S. Supreme Court.

Cynthia shares her husband’s passion for both history and the arts. Before retiring, she served 34 years as director of the nearby Henry B. Plant Museum, which she grew significantly in funding and stature. She previously spent several years as legislative aide to County Commissioner Jan Platt and five years working with The Florida Orchestra.  

So it seemed only natural that the couple would themselves make history while elevating the arts at USF. Their recent $2.5 million gift to the College of Design, Art and Performance — the largest single donation ever to the college — has also named the state-of-the-art concert venue at the Tampa campus’ School of Music. It is now the Peter and Cynthia Zinober Concert Hall.

The gesture came to fruition gradually.

“We just didn’t parachute into this project last month with a sack of money, saying ‘We want our names on a building — what have you got?’” Pete says. “It was either going to be music or nothing, because of our connection to music and the college, which we’ve been involved with since the 1970s.”

• • •

The hall is an intimate space with seating for 450. Exceptionally gifted students and faculty showcase their skills here, as do visiting performers. Since opening in 2011, it has become a musical gem for both USF and the entire Tampa Bay region. The only thing missing was an identity. The right identity. Now, thanks to the Zinobers, it has one.

“I can’t think of a more ideal name to grace our world-class music hall — given the Zinobers’ love of music, their involvement with the arts and culture in the community, and their sincere desire to support a beautiful venue and our many talented students,” says USF President Rhea Law. “We are so grateful to them.”

College Dean Chris Garvin echoes those sentiments and points out that the Zinobers’ gift does more than provide student musicians with a top-tier performance space. 

“While their gift names the concert hall, its fruits will be seen across all of our arts disciplines,” he says. “Our new name, the College of Design, Art and Performance, highlights the breadth of our programs, and this gift is structured in a way that will allow us to support all of the arts when and where they need it the most.”

The two people who made it all happen spent much of their lives creating an impact in far different ways, yet almost seemed destined for this moment. 

• • • 

Pete’s story began in St. Petersburg, where he attended Boca Ciega High (Class of ’60). At UF, he played principal euphonium for nine years, French horn in the university’s orchestra, in addition to trumpet, brass, choir work and recorder in Renaissance and Baroque ensembles.

He met Cynthia in 1967, when he lived in a log cabin with eight classmates while attending UF Levin College of Law.

“We called it the Santa Fe River Valley Hunt Club, and one of the things we did was host parties for the law school tied to various events,” he says. 

Cynthia, who had transferred to UF from Queens College (now Queens University) in Charlotte, North Carolina, turned up for one of those parties. It was a fleeting encounter, and the two would go their separate ways, marrying and building successful careers. But later in life, their paths would cross again — and again and again.

Among Pete’s achievements, after earning his master’s in labor law from George Washington University: being named among the Best Lawyers in America in Labor Law, Employment Law and Labor Litigation.

In Tampa, he took part in cultural and arts activities, chairing The Florida Orchestra board, serving on the City of Tampa Mayor’s Public Arts Committee and serving as president of the Tampa Bay Business Committee for Arts and Culture, all while pursuing his love of performing. 

Cynthia, meanwhile, joined The Florida Orchestra staff in1983, focusing on fundraising and administration.

After leaving the orchestra in 1988, she received a call from the chairman of the Plant Museum board: “She said, ‘I’m writing a job description to run the museum, and it sounds exactly like you — might you be interested in becoming director?’”

By the time Cynthia retired two years ago, the museum had earned accreditation, a rare distinction. She led its growth from a $60,000 annual budget to $2 million in investments.

Along the way, she and Pete continued running into one another. They both served on and chaired the Hillsborough Arts Council. They each belonged to the Tampa Yacht Club and even played mixed doubles tennis as partners on occasion. 

“There were just so many things we found ourselves doing at the same time, and we gradually became best friends,” Pete says. “It was only after that when we started to date.”

They married 12 years ago, and the rest is Hallmark movie-turned-landmark gift.

“Pete and Cynthia are very special people who have already made their mark on this university and community, and now they are doing so in such a lasting way with the College of Design, Art and Performance,” said USF Foundation CEO Jay Stroman. “Their generous support reflects their deep love of music and the arts, and their commitment to fostering talent and creativity. We are profoundly grateful for the legacy they are leaving, which will inspire and benefit our students and programs for generations to come.”

On a shelf in their home, family photos abound, including shots of Pete’s three sons and seven grandchildren. But now there’s a new addition to the family — the Peter and Cynthia Zinober Concert Hall, mirroring their lifelong commitment to the community and unending passion for music.