“06880” reader Burt Grad nominates Ernie and Zulma Heidelberg as Unsung Heroes.
Unfortunately, for Ernie it’s a posthumous honor. He died on Friday, at 85.
They were long and active members of the Westport Community Emergency Response Team. Ernie was president for 13 years; she helped him run it.
CERT is one of Westport’s most important — and unheralded — volunteer organizations. It provides aid during and after hurricanes, blizzards, power and communication failures — you name it. If Westport needs help, CERT is there.
They’re there for non-emergencies too. CERT assists at big public events, like the Compo Beach fireworks. And they offer education programs in personal preparedness, active shooter awareness and response, and situations involving domestic and international terrorism.
Zulma and Ernie Heidelberg (Photo/Pam Einarsen)
During their long service, Ernie and Zulma made CERT a strong, well-trained organization that is little know, but always present.
Ernie also coordinated with other area CERTs to provide cross-training and mutual assistance.
Ernie and Zulma were born in Argentina, and moved to the US as adults. Ernie worked for IBM, then at the American Society for Mechanical Engineers. Zulma was a bilingual school psychologist in New Haven until recently.
Ernie and Zulma epitomize quiet, committed service to Westport. Today we thank them for their work — and honor Ernie’s memory.
(Email Unsung Hero nominations to 06880blog@gmail.com. To support “06880,” please click here.)
