By Mark Swensen
As I write this I sadly prepare to attend the wake of Edward Rummel. I had the opportunity to work with Ed Rummel for almost 10 years as a junior, member and officer of the Mineola Ambulance Corps. I served on the Chiefs Board with Ed for a number of years. During that time he taught me the ins and outs of running EMS calls.
He helped to develop many young EMS officers and stressed keeping my patient and crew safe above all. Over the years, I watched Ed work tirelessly to shape Mineola Ambulance Corp into a first class emergency medical agency. Ed always made sure that the members were building relationships that would last and help them in the toughest times.
As a testament to that, the friends I am closest with today some 12 years later are friends that I made at the Mineola Ambulance Corps and I was introduced to most of them by Ed personally. It was not uncommon for Ed to find a reason to have a BBQ or a find a new place to eat that we all had to try. He would Lobby endlessly to local business and the village board for more equipment and supplies to help the residents of Mineola.
Ed could be found daily in his chiefs office writing a letter or note to someone about a recent call or an event that needed medical coverage. To say that Ed responded to Thousands of calls would be an understatement.
Countless residents have had the benefit of Ed’s hard work and may not even have known it. I’m sure I’m not alone when I say, it was always a relief when I was by myself in the back of the ambulance to look up and see Ed’s Chiefs car pull onto the block. It meant that I had backup, It meant that I had a friend coming to help me.
As I reflect now on all the times I have shared with Ed in the back of an ambulance and otherwise, I am saddened by the fact that there are many future MVAC members who will not know the friendship, support, laughter and comraderie that Ed Rummel Brought to my time at MVAC.
