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Tag: Obituary

Rest in Peace, Richard Zuschlag

Written by AAA Staff on . Posted in News, Press.

It is with profound sorrow that the American Ambulance Association extends our heartfelt condolences to the Acadian family on the passing of Richard Zuschlag. As a cherished friend and esteemed colleague, Richard’s impact on the EMS community and beyond is immeasurable. His vision, generosity, and unwavering dedication have left an indelible mark on all who knew him.

Randy Strozyk, President of the American Ambulance Association, aptly said, “Richard was a giant in our field, whose passion for service and commitment to excellence set a standard that will inspire future generations. His legacy of compassion and leadership will forever guide us.”

Richard’s life was a testament to the power of faith, resilience, and servant leadership. He was a beacon of hope and a force for good, and his memory will continue to inspire and uplift us.

 

The Passing of Richard Emery Zuschlag

March 28, 1948 – June 5, 2024

It is with the heaviest of hearts that we share with you the passing of our friend, mentor, and leader Richard Emery Zuschlag. Richard fought the hard fight that so many with cancer and its complications have endured. While we mourn our extraordinary loss, we are comforted in knowing that he is no longer suffering. He is now in the loving arms of his Lord, in whom he had unwavering faith.

Richard was a much loved and admired agent of change, not only in the state of Louisiana but across the nation. The lives he affected through his vision, generosity, inspiration, and leadership are countless. Whether a friend, employee, peer or patient, all of our lives were changed due to his undeniable determination to make a difference.

His legacy endures through his beautiful family, and in every life saved, every patient helped, and in every battle he waged to ensure that all people had access to high-quality medical care. He never backed down when fighting for the things he loved most: his family, his employees, and the communities he served.

His legacy also lives on in the company he tirelessly worked 53 years to grow and nurture.  Acadian Companies is not just a successful organization but also serves as an example of how servant leadership, high integrity and unwavering determination create success, not for one, but for all.

We will forever be changed, forever be grateful, and forever be better because of who Richard was and the lessons and legacy he has left us. He treated everyone with respect and was constantly striving to bring people together for the greater good. It is up to all of us to honor this legacy by living and leading by his example and his faith. Because of Richard, Acadian is stronger than ever, and in his honor, we will carry on his life’s work.

Special thanks go out to Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, Dr. Charles Burnell, Dr. Jason Breaux, Paul Hamilton and the many friends and healthcare providers who attended to him.

Please continue to pray for Richard, his family, friends and all those whose lives have been forever changed by this loss.

Information regarding services will be provided when available. We humbly ask you to please respect the privacy of the family while arrangements are being made.

 

In Memory of the Crew of Air Evac Lifeteam N295AE

Written by AAA Staff on . Posted in News, Press.

Statement from Global Medical Response

Air Evac Lifeteam is heartbroken to report that three crew members have perished in an incident that occurred on Saturday, January 20. At 11:23 pm local time AEL’s Operations Control Center (OCC) lost contact with the aircraft, a Bell 206L3 with call sign N295AE. The crew is based out of Weatherford, OK, and was returning to base after completing a patient care transport in Oklahoma City when the OCC lost contact with them. Nearby AEL teams assisted local law enforcement with the search.

Our primary focus is on supporting the families and our team members. CISM teams have been sent to assist our team members during this time.

It is with a heavy heart that we share the names of our three colleagues. Pilot Russell Haslam, Flight Nurse Adam Tebben and Flight Paramedic Steven Fitzgerald. We continue to hold their families in our hearts.

AEL has turned over the scene and investigation to the NTSB

NAEMSP | Rest in Peace E. Brooke Lerner, PhD, FAEMS

Written by AAA Staff on . Posted in News.

NAEMSP is deeply saddened by the news that E. Brooke Lerner, PhD, FAEMS has passed away after a courageous battle with cancer. Over the past two decades, Brooke has dedicated her career to the advancement of prehospital care, from spending time in the field as a paramedic to serving on the NAEMSP Board of Directors and joining her alma mater, the University of Buffalo, as a tenured professor and vice chair for research in the Department of Emergency Medicine in the Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences.

 

Said NAEMSP President José G Cabañas MD, MPH, FAEMS: “We pay tribute to the extraordinary legacy ‎of Dr. Brooke Lerner. Her service to our profession and NAEMSP was marked by honor and distinction, ‎including the mentorship of countless clinicians devoted to building effective prehospital systems of ‎care. Brooke’s transformative work played a pivotal role in advancing trauma and pediatric emergency ‎care, leaving behind a body of work that was instrumental in enhancing prehospital care standards. ‎May her enduring legacy serve as an inspiration to all of us, reminding us of the profound impact one ‎person’s selfless dedication can have in elevating the practice of EMS medicine.”‎

 

Throughout her career, Brooke focused on research in a subspecialty with a relatively small literature ‎base, authoring over 135 peer-reviewed publications and completing many federally funded grants to ‎conduct EMS research. Much of her research addressed acute injury care and field/disaster triage, and ‎she led the current national guideline for mass casualty triage.‎

 

Brooke also dedicated much of her time to pediatric emergency care, especially through the federally ‎funded Pediatric Emergency Care Applied Research Network (PECARN), where she led the ‎organization’s only prehospital node and served on its Executive Committee.‎

 

Following her diagnosis, Brooke worked with NAEMSP and the GMR Foundation to establish the E. ‎Brooke Lerner Research Fund with the goal of supporting early career EMS researchers. “I’ve spent my ‎career on improving prehospital care, and I wanted to leave something behind to keep that legacy ‎moving forward,” Brooke said, speaking of the fund shortly after its creation.‎

 

In 2013, Brooke received NAEMSP’s Keith Neely Award, and ten years later, she was recognized with ‎the Ronald D. Stewart Award for her illustrious career in EMS. It would be impossible to recount all the ‎invaluable contributions to emergency medical services made by Brooke Lerner, and more impossible ‎still to describe the impact she made on each person she met. NAEMSP will remember Brooke with the ‎utmost admiration and is profoundly grateful for everything she has done to advance EMS.‎

NREMT | In Memoriam: Rocco V. Morando leaves a rich legacy for EMS

Written by AAA Staff on . Posted in AAA HQ, News.

 
Rocco V. Morando, the Founder and first Executive Director of the National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians passed away peacefully and surrounded by family on the morning of February 21, 2023 after a prolonged illness. He was 95.

“It is with a heavy heart and deep sadness that I inform you of the passing of our organization’s founder,” Bill Seifarth, the current executive director of the organization announced to his staff and board this afternoon. “Rocco Morando was a luminary in the EMS profession and was instrumental in helping shape the lifesaving system we know today. His legacy will continue to provide inspiration for years to come, and we are grateful for his contributions.”

On June 4, 1970, the National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians was established following the recommendation of a task force assembled under President Lyndon B. Johnson’s Committee on Highway Traffic Safety. Morando was selected as the National Registry’s founding executive director in 1971 and held that position for nearly two decades.

During his career at the National Registry, Morando oversaw a number of accomplishments, including: the first basic NREMT-A examination administered simultaneously to 1,520 ambulance personnel at 51 test sites throughout the United States (1971);  the first recertification of Nationally Registered EMTs based on re-evaluation of skills (1973); the development of the first national paramedic curriculum in conjunction with leading EMS agencies and the University of Pittsburgh (1976-77);  and the first NREMT-Paramedic examination (1978); the development of the first NREMT-Intermediate curriculum  and examination (1980).

Upon his retirement on December 31, 1988, Morando was honored with a celebration attended by hundreds of friends and representatives from national EMS organizations. The National Registry’s headquarters in Columbus, Ohio was renamed the Rocco V. Morando Building that same year.

The Rocco V. Morando Lifetime Achievement Award, named in his honor, recognizes a lifetime of commitment, contributions and leadership to Emergency Medical Services (EMS). The award is presented by the National Association of EMTs and is sponsored by the National Registry.

Current and former employees, along with those throughout the EMS community, send their thoughts and condolences to Rocco’s family and friends.

Funeral arrangements are still being made at this time. More information will be available on the funeral home’s website.
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In Memory of Bill McCarthy

Written by AAA Staff on . Posted in AAA HQ.

Many of you have likely heard the devastating news of the passing of Mr. Bill McCarthy, CEO of Coastal Health Systems of Brevard, on December 20, 2021. Bill was a dedicated leader in EMS and a dear friend and colleague to many. He served as the CEO of Coastal Health for 20 years and will always be remembered for the amazing work he did on behalf of Coastal Health and EMS providers in Florida. The American Ambulance Association Board of Directors extends their sincere condolences to Bill’s family, friends, and colleagues. Please see the Memorial Service information below. 

Memorial Service for Bill McCarthy 

Saturday, January 15th from 2-4pm ET
Beckman-Williamson Funeral Home
5400 Village Drive
Rockledge, Fl. 32955

In Memory of Larry Stone

Written by AAA Staff on . Posted in News, Press.

From The Boston Globe

STONE, Lawrence W. “Larry” Founder and President of PRO EMS Ambulance of Cambridge Passed away at Massachusetts General Hospital on October 9th. He was 75. Raised in Somerville, he was the son of the late John and Frances (Nichols) Stone. Larry served in the U.S. Navy during the Vietnam War. Upon his return from the war, Larry embarked on a long career in public safety and medical service, founding Professional Ambulance & Oxygen Service in 1969. Today, PRO EMS continues to proudly service the City of Cambridge and surrounding areas. During his years as President of the company he oversaw its steady expansion and navigated the increasing scope of services that emergency medicine provided. He was a leader in the development of inter-agency response to mass casualty events and could always be relied upon in the public safety community for rendering sound advice, born from the breath and length of his experience. Known as “225” to his colleagues and friends, Larry continued to be the driving force and conscience of his company. He has been featured in articles of the Journal of Emergency Medical Services and the Boston Globe. Larry was active in professional associations and civic affairs. He was a long time member and Past Commander of Cambridge VFW Post 299. The beloved husband of Catherine A. “Cathy” (Leonard) Stone, Larry was a devoted father to Teresa Cruz and her husband Edwin of Burlington, Danielle Santiago and her husband Javier of Billerica, and Kelly Stone-Pantojas and her husband Alex “Big Al” of Burlington. He was a loving Papa to Anthony, Ariana, Victoria, Xavier and Sofia. He was the brother of Francis, Jean, John, Sandra and Norman. He also leaves many nieces and nephews. Relatives and friends are respectfully invited to visit at the Dello Russo Funeral Home on Thursday, October 14th from 4 through 8 PM and again on Friday at 10 AM followed by a funeral Mass celebrated in St. John the Evangelist Church, 2270 Mass. Ave., Cambridge at 11 AM. As an expression of sympathy, memorial contributions may be sent in Larry’s name to the Vietnam Veterans of America, 8719 Colesville Road, Suite 100, Silver Spring, Maryland 20910. To leave a message of condolence, visit www.dellorusso.net

View the online memorial for Lawrence W. “Larry” STONE

Rest in Peace, Jacob Dindinger

Written by AAA Staff on . Posted in News, Press.

From Global Medical Response

It is with a heavy heart that we inform you that Jacob’s family made the decision to remove him from life support. This decision did not come easy; it came after many tests and conversations and much consideration to his condition. Jacob fought hard, but unfortunately the injuries he sustained were so damaging, he was not able to survive them.

Jacob made such a big impact in our community with each interaction he had. He was dedicated and driven to succeed and continually looking for his next accomplishment. To Jacob, failure was a setback, but it didn’t stop him from working harder to succeed. His family meant everything to him, and the smiles we have seen in recent photos show the love he had for his family and friends. He made an even bigger impact on our family here at AMR and we feel like we are all better people after being touched by Jacob and his family.

These past two weeks have been difficult for the entire GMR family. We appreciate all the support you have given to our local teams as well as the family. CISM teams have been working in Arizona to help our teams there, and GMR Life teams have been offering support across all our operations. I encourage you to reach out to them and to our HR teams, and to use EAP resources.

When final arrangements have been made, we will notify our local teams.

If you would like to help the family, a Go Fund Me account has been established.

Thank you,

Glenn Kasprzyk, Southwest Region President
Jackie Evans, Regional Director
Global Medical Response

In Memory of Allan S. Reichle (1934–2016)

Written by Amanda Riordan on . Posted in Press.

The American Ambulance Association is saddened to report  that f Allan S. (“Al”) Reichle passed away on July 20. In addition to owning Springs Ambulance and other successful business ventures, Al served on AAA’s Government Affairs and AMBUPAC Committees. Our thoughts are with his family.

Service Information

Wiefels and Sons Mortuary

690 S. Vella Road
Palm Springs, CA  92264
Saturday 8/20/16 @ 10AM

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