Local Ambulance Volunteer Serving in Afghanistan Honored

A member of the , who is currently serving in Afghanistan, was honored at the second annual Southampton Town EMS Advisory Committee Volunteer of the Year awards dinner on Friday night.

Because the honoree, Ronald Hintze, could not be present to receive his award, his son, Andrew Hintze, accepted it on his behalf.

Meanwhile,  Rescue Volunteer Philip Cammann received a high honor Friday evening at the event. Paramedic Cammann, an ambulance volunteer since 1980, was presented with the Nancy Makson Award of Excellence, named for the late Flanders Northampton Volunteer Ambulance Company co-founder.

In addition to his service in Bridgehampton, where he spearheaded the first responder program, Cammann was the founding chief of Southampton Volunteer Ambulance, according to Dave Skretch, who presented Cammann with Bridgehampton's agency award.

Each EMS agency in town presented an extraordinary volunteer, or team of volunteers, with a Volunteer of the Year Award on Friday. Additionally, Karl Klug, the Suffolk County EMS deputy chief of operations, presented each honoree with certificates of recognition.

While the individual agency awards came as no surprise Friday, Cammann did not learn until that evening he would be receiving the Nancy Makson Award, which was presented by Robert Makson, the widower of Nancy Makson.

Supervisor Anna Throne-Holst and Councilwoman Christine Scalera represented Southampton Town. Throne-Holst told the volunteers, "We honor all of you for the work that you do and the sacrifices that you make. ... It's certainly not lost to us the role you play and your importance to the community."

Chief Ian King presented Christopher Epley, a young ambulance member and son of Village Mayor Mark Epley, with the village ambulance corps' award.

's award, presented by Chief Lucy Gulli, went to Joseph Louchheim, the agency's treasurer. Gulli said Louchheim joined in 2008 and became a highly trained volunteer who now teaches CPR himself.

Chief Edward Downes presented Edward Tuohy with Sag Harbor's award.

From Hampton Bays Volunteer Ambulance, Chief Christopher Fraser presented Carl Schottenhamel Sr. with Hampton Bays' award. Fraser said Schottenhamel has answered 1,000 alarms in three years and was previously awarded Rookie of the Year and Driver of the Year.

In absentia, Faith Erwin received East Quogue Fire Rescue's award.

Westhampton War Memorial Volunteer Ambulance Chief Rita Wyatt presented its agency award to the entire team behind a cardiac rescue, Ben Hubbard, Allaine King, Jeff Platt, Andrew Lenchen, Jimmy Zambile and paid member Brian Danowski.