Source: Lakeshore Advance
ZURICH – A newly-installed defibrillator at the Zurich ball diamond on Main Street will not only increase safety at the park, but it also honours a late longtime member of the Zurich fire department.
The fire department held a fundraising wing night in 2021 to raise money for a SaveStation public access defibrillator, which was installed at the pavilion beside the ball diamond this past summer. A ceremony was held Saturday, Oct. 7 to unveil the device and dedicate it to the late Rick Gingerich, who was a member of the fire department for 26 years, retiring as deputy chief in 2012. Gingerich, who was the owner of Zurich’s C.G. Farm Supply for 29 years, died in 2019 at the age of 61.
Acting fire Chief Dave Erb said the defibrillator station was dedicated to “our friend, our brother, Rick Gingerich … We’re still honouring his role of supporting the community.”
Bluewater Deputy Mayor John Becker thanked the fire department for coming up with the idea of installing the defibrillator at the park. Becker said he hopes the device never has to be used, “but it’s here in case it does.”
Becker described Gingerich as a dedicated firefighter and community representative. A plaque beside the defibrillator honours Gingerich, saying he is “forever a legacy of our community.”
The SaveStation defibrillator is available around the clock every day. If the device is opened and the defibrillator is pulled out, all local firefighters will be notified and will respond to assist if required.
Members of the Gingerich family attended the Oct. 7 dedication, and Gingerich’s wife Marg said her late husband loved being on the fire department. She thanked the department for dedicating the defibrillator in his name.
Erb noted that one of the reasons the department chose the ball diamond as the location of the defibrillator was that Gingerich was a longtime ball player.
