Remembering Richard Berger
A hero to many made his last call. On Tuesday, December 24, Richard Berger died at age 70.
Many knew Richard as an all around nice guy, and from being active at local meetings, including community board, the 100th Precinct Community Council and the Belle Harbor Property Owners Association meetings, as a resident of Belle Harbor. He also frequently kept The Rockaway Times on our toes, with his letters to the editor and reminding us to include Hurricane Donna in This Week in History and making sure we had EMS Station 47 correctly listed in the Summer Guide. Berger often shared his knowledge in his letters and comments at meetings, bringing with him roughly 40 years of EMT experience, both paid and volunteer. Since 1973, Berger had volunteered with the Peninsula Volunteer Ambulance Corps, serving as a chief until 1996. He also worked for a number of private ambulette companies. From June 1985 until he was forced to retire in October 2011, he also worked as an EMT for the FDNY.
Our thoughts are with Berger’s girlfriend of 36 years, Johanna Mazza, his family and friends.
A graveside service was held for Richard Berger on Monday, December 30 at Mount Carmel Cemetery in Glendale.
