Apparatus Operator – Fire Station 89
Deceased:
12/30/2020
Appointed:
11/07/1959
Pensioned:
11/30/1995 – FS89
Services:
PRIVATE
Donations:
IN LIEU OF FLOWERS, PLEASE SEND DONATIONS TO:
Widows, Orphans & Disabled Firefighter’s Fund
PO BOX 41903
Los Angeles, CA 90041
I was a rookie at 10’s and we had an apartment fire on the 4th floor. It was extremely hot and then all of the sudden the heat just went away. I looked up and this guy standing on the roof with a chain saw says, “Is that better now boys”? Thanks Dick. RIP
I worked with “Z” at 10’s for a short while. and went on at least one group Motorcycle ride about a week long up to northern CA. where “If I remember correctly”, he had a transmission problem with his bike, but was able to get it repaired and continued the ride. May he “Rest in Peace”.
Zimer and I had a great time at 89s. I was his tillerman for a long time. One day, after he and I changed the oil on Truck 89 and had taken it out for a test drive around the block, he shut down the ignition and turned it back on just as we got back to the station. It created a LOUD boom! He loved doing that. But this time it split the muffler down the middle.
Well, the Drill Tower had a reserve truck with the same muffler. No Drill Tower class was in session at that time.
So about an hour later he and I had switched mufflers. Nobody knew what we did, except us. A couple of months later, a Drill Tower recruit class had started. One morning, just before we were to wake up at the station, we heard someone start the Drill Tower’s reserve truck. It was LOUD with that split muffler. Z looked at me, laughing, and said, “Hey Terry, it sounds like they need a new muffler!” Good times! They don’t make me like him anymore.
Thanks for the memories
I first met Dick in early ’75 when we became reliefs with Monty Majesky at 33’s. Coming on duty one morning, Monty informed me that the only reason he and I were assigned there, was to clean “Big Z’s” chain saw! The “C” shift had one heck of a run on structures.I later worked at 10’s with Z on another shift. Great times. With Dick’s passing, I still have memory of him walking out of the timber through the snow with a rifle and big smile while elk hunting in the Flat Tops of Colorado. My best to Roger and the Ziemer family in their time of grief.
Z would ride his motorcycle to 89’s pretty much all of the time. Only a bear and Z could do that. I asked him how long he’s had a motorcycle license. His reply was “ what motorcycle license!” RIP my man.
You were the best relief.
Dick was the A/O at 10’s and I was the A/O at 14’s, we ran in together all the time, and shared a few roofs. We never worked at the same station but became friends, lots of mutual respect. Missed seeing “Big Z” when he went to 89’s. Enjoyed seeing him and Rodger at retirement dinners and different events after we retired. Condolences to Rodger and their family from the Munoa family. Rest In Peace my friend.
Perfect example of a ol’ time FireMAN. I enjoyed working around him at Fire Station 10 back in the day. Dont sit in his TV chair unless you want to find yourself upside down in a trash can…I learned alot about hunting from Big Z and and all of his Colorado hunt buddies, all good men that I will never forget. Good times in Mexico on motorcycles. Who rides a BMW in the desert ?. RIP BIG “Z”. My condolences to all of his family especially Roger Ziemer…
I was a Fireman on the A shift at FS 33 in 1971 when I met “Z”. He was an Auto-Fireman on one of the other shifts. He had a young black Labrador Retriever he was ready to give to the “right person”. I had a young energetic black Lab. myself that I thought might settle down a little if he had a buddy. “Z” saw merit in my reasoning and brought the dog in the next shift. The two dogs got along really well but it was like having a runaway backhoe in my backyard! I mentioned the issue to “Z” a couple of weeks later and asked if he noticed a digging problem with the dog when he had him. He laughed and said “no, he was a perfect gentleman when I had him.” As he walked away, he asked me if I had named the dog. I said that I didn’t name him for a few days, but my wife suggested the name “Trouble”. “Z” laughed again and said “great name…”.
Over the years I’d see “Z” occasionally and he’d ask me about Trouble and we would laugh about the dog’s bad habit that took me 2 years to break. Rest in Peace my friend.
I first met “Z” working SOD at 10’s as a young fireman. When I made A/O I was assigned to 20’s. A few years later Captain Pete was transfer there, I immediately call “Z” on how to handle the old guy. Needless to say all his advice worked. Captain Pete would always give me a look. like where and how did you know that. Rest In Peace and my condolences to the family..
I was fortunate to become one of the Triple Z ROUGHRIDERS, Elk slayers and Chief Cook for many years. We became closer when he and Jo moved to Fallbrook, Dick was a giant of a man, rough around the edges with a heart of gold.. I was the last to see him before he passed on 12/31/20. REST IN Peace my Special Friend.