83-YEAR-OLD STAYS IN THE SWIM; RED CROSS TO LAUD VOLUNTEER FOR HER 55 YEARS OF SERVICE.Byline: John Huddy Daily News Staff Writer Irma Kackert learned to love swimming as a little girl, paddling with her brothers in a lake on summer trips to an aunt's house in Wisconsin. As she grew up, her love progressed into a hobby, then a profession. In 1943, Kackert began volunteering as a swimming instructor for the American Red Cross American Red Cross: see Red Cross. . She enjoyed teaching people how to swim How to Swim is a cartoon made by the Walt Disney Company in 1942. In this cartoon, Goofy provides an educational treatise on swimming and diving with questionable results. , just as her brothers had taught her. Kackert's astounding a·stound tr.v. a·stound·ed, a·stound·ing, a·stounds To astonish and bewilder. See Synonyms at surprise. [From Middle English astoned, past participle of astonen, 55 years of service are being recognized by the Red Cross, which is bestowing an Award of Excellence on the longtime volunteer. ``Irma is a role model because she has passed the tradition on learning how to swim down to her family and to her students,'' said Diana Grace, volunteer director of the local Red Cross office. ``She's very patient and takes the time to help out, which is wonderful.'' Kackert, a native of Aurora, Ill., who moved to California with her husband, now deceased, in 1972, loves what she does - and her years of work prove it. ``I enjoy helping people,'' said Kackert, 83. ``I've always enjoyed teaching swimming and teaching people. Many times it's a challenge . . . but I seem to have a knack (for) getting people to feel secure in the water and then swimming.'' Since becoming a certified swimming instructor in 1955, Kackert estimates, she has taught more than 1,000 people to swim. She specializes in teaching developmentally and physically challenged physically challenged adj. Having a physical disability or impairment, especially one that limits mobility. See Usage Note at challenged. n. (used with a pl. individuals. ``It's very fulfilling, helping those kids with cerebral palsy cerebral palsy (sərē`brəl pôl`zē), disability caused by brain damage before or during birth or in the first years, resulting in a loss of voluntary muscular control and coordination. swim, and allowing them the freedom of movement that they normally wouldn't have,'' said Kackert, who also specializes in hydrotherapy hydrotherapy, use of water in the treatment of illness or injury. Although the medicinal and hygienic value of water was recognized by the early Greeks, hydrotherapy attained its widest use in the 18th and 19th cent. rehabilitation. ``I've become very close with Irma; she's quite an influence on me and the other students,'' said Beverly Swanson, a 30-year Thousand Oaks Thousand Oaks, residential city (1990 pop. 104,352), Ventura co., S Calif., in a farm area; inc. 1964. Avocados, citrus, vegetables, strawberries, and nursery products are grown. resident who receives hydrotherapy instruction from Kackert. ``We do a lot of laughing, and she always gets us to smile,'' Swanson said. ``She knows exactly how to do the exercises . . . she explains it all to us, which makes it much more comfortable to work and learn. She's really a great help to those who need it.'' Kackert's expertise has taken her to the other side of the globe. Her son took a job in 1980 as a pharmacist at Al Hada Hospital in Saudi Arabia Saudi Arabia (sä  `dē ərā`bēə, sou`–, sô–), officially Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, kingdom (2005 est. pop. . The hospital also needed a hydrotherapist, and Kackert landed that position, living in Saudi Arabia in 1980-85. ``My son only stayed for three months,'' Kackert said. ``I hardly ever got to see him because he was several miles away from where I was staying, and as a woman, I wasn't allowed to drive a car.'' Kackert, who also is an avid scuba diver, took the opportunity of living abroad to explore the depths of the Red Sea. ``I became very well-acquainted with the other employees working at the hospital,'' she said. ``We would go on excursions to the Red Sea, which was three hours away from where we were, in the middle of nowhere, and camp out for the weekend. ``We would have to bring everything we needed because there wasn't anything around - no stores, nothing. It was very adventurous for us all.'' Adventure could be Kackert's middle name. She has gone to the four corners of the Earth - everywhere from Thailand to Barbados, London to Panama. She also has traveled around the world twice by herself. But lately, Kackert is settling down a little bit. Although she still finds time to travel, she doesn't think she'll be doing the global tour anymore. ``I'm getting older now, so I don't know Don't know (DK, DKed) "Don't know the trade." A Street expression used whenever one party lacks knowledge of a trade or receives conflicting instructions from the other party. if I'll go all the way around the world again,'' she said. ``But I still love to travel. I just got back from Costa Rica Costa Rica (kŏs`tə rē`kə), officially Republic of Costa Rica, republic (2005 est. pop. 4,016,000), 19,575 sq mi (50,700 sq km), Central America. . There are still some places that I would like to see. But for now, I'm happy just teaching.'' Aside from her swimming lessons, Kackert has done a great deal of lecturing about her travels. ``Whizzing Around the World With Irma'' is the name of the series - complete with a slide show and memorabilia - she has been presenting for more than a decade. She has been featured on KCAL-TV (Channel 9), which did a story about her lecture series and life of travel, and is a well-known face at the Goebel Senior Adult Center in Thousand Oaks, where she gives her lectures. Kackert's enthusiasm and interest have brought her opportunities others might never experience - something that happened during one trip to Greece. ``I was watching the fishermen mending their nets off one of the Greek islands,'' she said. ``I asked one of the fishermen a question. He spoke English, and we started talking. ``He invited me to go for a ride on his fishing boat, which he just got a new engine in; he was very proud. So I went with him. It was very interesting.'' VOLUNTEER SERVICE AWARDS Several Ventura County volunteers were honored recently for their years of service by the Ventura County Chapter of the American Red Cross. They include: Doug Off, also known as ``Mr. Red Mr. Red is the first mascot of the Cincinnati Reds baseball team, known as baseball's first professional franchise. He is a humanoid figure dressed in a Reds uniform, with an oversized baseball for a head. Sometimes, Mr. Cross'' to volunteers at the chapter in Camarillo, who received the Stark Memorial Award for Volunteer of the Year. He has taught safety courses and was instrumental in the building development project that provided a new chapter headquarters for the Ventura County chapter seven years ago. Eileen Cohen cohen or kohen (Hebrew: “priest”) Jewish priest descended from Zadok (a descendant of Aaron), priest at the First Temple of Jerusalem. The biblical priesthood was hereditary and male. of Simi Valley Simi Valley (sē`mē, sĭm`ē), city (1990 pop. 100,217), Ventura co., SW Calif. in an oil, fruit, and farm region; laid out 1887, inc. 1969. and Greg Chambers of Moorpark as Volunteer Fund-raisers of the Year. Martha Schraml, Richard Swade and Robin Weber, all of Simi Valley; Janet Dackow, Tracey Boyer and Albert Chan Albert Chan Wai Yip (陳偉業, born 3 March 1955 in Hong Kong with family root in Shunde, Guangdong) is member of the Legislative Council of Hong Kong since 1991 except between 1997 and 2000. Chan is also a member of the Tsuen Wan District Council. ; all of Thousand Oaks; and Linda Johnson
Linda Johnson (born 14 October 1953) is an American professional poker player, journalist and consultant, based in Las Vegas, Nevada. of Moorpark received Partnership Awards. Dawn Adams, Vickie Decker and Sandra Patterson, all of Simi Valley; Jeff Harmon and Alberta and Don Munding, all of Thousand Oaks; Tim Powell of Camarillo; Fauvett Rollyson of Moorpark; and Bob Weaver Bob Weaver (1928 — June 17 2006) was one of the USA's first TV weathermen. Weaver was born in New York City, he moved to Florida to attend the University of Miami, shortly after graduating he was hired by WTVJ and became Miami's first TV weatherman and a station of Newbury Park were honored for 20 years of service. Bill and Lisa Lawrence of Thousand Oaks, and Lois Stephens and Diane and Hal Campbell, all of Camarillo, were honored for 15 years' service. Mike Jawitz and Dave Laury of Simi Valley, Mertice Nichols of Thousand Oaks and Richard Sima of Newbury Park were recognized for 10 years of service. Tonja Cole, Mariann Cox, Jeff Feyne, Daniel Morency and Richard Swade, all of Simi Valley; Rick Gutierrez of Thousand Oaks; Joan Coombs-Rabuano, Chris Krone, and Geri and Gwen Wong, all of Camarillo; Gloria Arbuckle, Jim Carpenter, Linda Johnson and Vince Racabuto, all of Moorpark; and Steven Caplan of Newbury Park were honored for five years of service. CAPTION(S): Photo, Box PHOTO (Color) Irma Kackert and her granddaughter, Shannon Reedy reed·y adj. reed·i·er, reed·i·est 1. Full of reeds. 2. Made of reeds. 3. Resembling a reed, especially in being thin or fragile: , enjoy a refreshing dip in Kackert's pool at her Thousand Oaks home. The 83-year-old, who estimates she has taught more than 1,000 people to swim, Reedy included, will be honored by the Red Cross for 55 years of volunteer service. Michael Owen Baker/Daily News BOX: VOLUNTEER SERVICE AWARDS (see text) |
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