NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — The Drury High School class of 1957 donated $2,176.90 to Northern Berkshire EMS (NBEMS) in memory of their classmate, Barbara (Nissen) Wagner, who helped establish the service in 1977.

 

"We appreciate this and when Barb passed away we had money that was donated. We put that money into an investment account," said General Manager John Meaney said. We're going to add this money into that account. Because someday, we hope to raise enough money to expand the service and hopefully, get a bigger building at some point, because we've been outgrowing over the years."

 

Wagner, who passed away in 2006 at the age of 67, was an initiator of the capital campaign to establish the North Adams Ambulance Service, now known as Northern Berkshire EMS, in 1977. She served as president of the organization for 29 years. 

 

"She built this," Meaney said, referring to the Harris Street headquarters the group met in on Friday afternoon. "She was president of the board and they built the headquarters here…It has come a long way. She had a vision back in 1977 to where we are today. It is pretty amazing we have eight units and we cover 351 square miles and 13 towns."

 

Class of 1957 member Hulda Jowett said the class decided they were no longer going to hold reunions so they decided to clean out the account. 

 

Class member Jane DeMarco said it was a clear decision to donate the funds in Wagner's name.   

 

"She was a member of our class and this just seemed fitting," said DeMarco. "This might encourage other people who might have money they want to donate."

 

Wagner's daughter, Jane Forrestal, recalled her mother's dedication to the ambulance service.

 

"I think in that first fundraising effort, she raised $65,000 to buy the first unit." Forrestal said. "..."She stuck with it until her death. She was still president. She used to call it ‘my ambulance.' But it was. "It was really necessary in the area because a lot of families wouldn't call because the service was private."

 

She recalled an early fundraising campaign. A $24 per family donation She sold $24 vial magnets that stuck on the fridge. Inside the vial was a scroll where households could write family members names, blood types, and dates of birth 

 

"That way when the ambulance came they could go right to the fridge and get that information because maybe the person couldn't speak," she said. "so that enabled every family to have one ride for that initial year." 

 

Classmate Patricia Baker shared a personal story highlighting the need for an ambulance service before its creation.

 

"They picked him up in a police cruiser because that is what they did. He was hit head on and was bleeding," she said, recalling an incident where a person was hit by a bike. 

 

Forrestal recalled her mom's dedication to the service.

 

 "I remember she would spread all her documents all over wherever she was working, the couch the bed her desk," she said. "There were long lists and lists of donors, stuff she wanted to do. She worked like the dickens to make this go. She loved it."