 Over the years Zinn received multiple awards for his work, including a special commendation from the AEC in 1956, the Atoms for Peace Award in 1960, the Enrico Fermi Award in 1969, and the Elliott Cresson Medal from The Franklin Institute in 1970.In 1955 he was elected as the first president of the American Nuclear Society (ANS).Zinn's wife Jean died in 1964.