Ernest Bebernitz

The only place offering organized youth activities in the community in which Ernest “Skip” Bebernitz grew up was the local firehouse where he joined the Cub and Boy Scouts and also their drum corps. To give back to the fire department for the experiences they provided him while he was growing up, Skip became an EMT and began his lifelong commitment to service. Skip has been in EMS for 44 years including 28 years with Mohawk Ambulance Service and he also continues to volunteer with the Speigletown Fire Department. In all his years in EMS, Skip has done and seen a lot. When Skip was the Chief of Speigletown Fire Department in 1985 – 86 an Incident Command Structure was instituted based on the City of Phoenix model and he also developed an ALS Intercept Program between the BLS ambulance service and the two commercial ALS providers. He was deployed, with a Mohawk Ambulance contingent, to the Gulf Coast during Hurricane Katrina and, since becoming a Paramedic with Mohawk in 1988, Skip has either been the team leader or a team member in a remarkable 7 cardiac arrest reversals. Skip is not only a Supervisor and Paramedic at Mohawk Ambulance but he also had a very distinguished career in the Army National Guard and the Army Reserves, where he spent 22 Â_ years in Drill Status and 16 Â_ years in Retired Reserve Status before retiring as a Major with an impressive 38 years, 9 months and 14 days of service to our Country. It is easy to see that service is very important to Skip. Toward that end he continues to serve as an active member of Military Officers of America (he’s on the Board of the local chapter), National Guard Association of the US, the National Association of Uniformed Services and the Association of the US Army. Skip also serves as the EMS QI Committee Chair for Rensselaer County, New York. His years of experience in both emergency services and the military allow Skip to serve as a mentor and role model for the employees at Mohawk Ambulance and it is for his continuous contributions to EMS both at the agency and regional level that Skip is being honored as a “Star of Life”. Skip and his wife, Mary Lou, are celebrating their 25th Anniversary this year and returning to Washington, DC, their honeymoon destination, which adds to his appreciation of the Star of Life Award.”