Hazel Irene Franklin

Other Events:

• Name: Hazel Irene Riedlinger
• Residence: 350 King St. N., Waterloo, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada
• Eby ID Number: Waterloo-215594
• Occupation: 1923, Glen Allan, Peel Twp., Wellington Co., Ontario; Housekeeper

Hazel married William Riedlinger 25 Jul 1923, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada. William (son of Isidor Riedlinger and Louisa Walter) was born 29 May 1896, Elgersweier, Baden-Württemberg, Germany; died 24 Feb 1960, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; was buried , Woodland Cem., Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada. [Group Sheet]

Barbara — Karl Soth. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• Name: Gloria Zimmerman
• Eby ID Number: Waterloo-241202
• Residence: 1983, 228 Albert St., Waterloo, Ontario

Notes:

Lifetimes: Gloria Zimmerman at home in the great outdoors

By Valerie Hill Special to the Record

Gloria Zimmerman had a special gift for understanding nature. She could hear a bird's song in the forest and know exactly what sort of feathered creature was flitting high up in the canopy.

Naturalist, Neil Taylor, recalled an outing with Gloria and other members of the Kitchener-Waterloo Field Naturalists, now known as Waterloo Region Nature.

"Gloria said 'listen, it's a black-throated green warbler,' " he recalled. "She imitated it and the bird responded."

Gloria, who often led the naturalist group's hikes, was particularly thrilled during the annual Christmas bird count when dozens of bird watchers headed outdoors to document what species of birds are in the region. It's a good indication as to the overall health of the bird population and therefore, it's critical work.

"She was just so enthusiastic about everything she'd seen and recorded," said Neil. "She was a mentor to many, the way she approached the outings. She'd say 'no-one is an expert: we all work together.' She was an inspiration to a lot of us."

It was a statement of pure humility for few were as adept as Gloria at identifying birds, trees and plants, both wild and garden varieties. She also knew a lot about geology.

Neil noted her interest in nature was "eclectic."

Gloria sat on the organization's board of directors for several years.

"Boy, the enthusiasm she brought to each directors' meetings," he said. "Her voice was so warm."

In the mid-1960s, Gloria edited the naturalists' newsletter, The Heron, starting when the job was labour-intensive and required typing everything out, then later running off copies on a Gestetner hand-cranked duplicating machine. She eventually graduated to a computer.

"She did it until she couldn't do it anymore, into her 80s," said Bill. "She didn't do it for recognition."

Son, Bill Zimmerman, said his mom always loved nature. "She knew all the Latin names."

Neil noted she also signed up for several bird-watching group excursions and if a trip was cancelled, she'd just go by herself, whether it was to Pelee or the Yukon.

She was born Gloria Riedlinger, Sept. 6, 1925, in Waterloo, one of four children. Her father owned Ornamental Mouldings, where she would end up working for several years.

"She was extremely smart," said Bill, noting his mother was awarded a University of Toronto scholarship to study science but the onset of the Second World War put an end to her university education.

Instead, she was sent for lab technician training at Western University to help with the war effort. Her first job was working in an explosives plant, Welland Chemical. After the war she left the lab to work for her father as office manager and bookkeeper at Ornamental Mouldings, retiring in 1985. Gloria had met builder, Carl Zimmerman, and the couple married in 1952 and had two children: Bill and Mary.

As an adult, Bill started his own business Rockway Wood Products. His mother helped him get started and became his bookkeeper. She also worked part time doing medical transcription at St. Mary's General Hospital.

Bill said when she wasn't outdoors, Gloria spent much of her time reading and her interests in literature were as eclectic as her interests in nature.

She'd absorb old English novels or science books or a good tome about the fall of western civilization.

"We went to the library a lot, did a lot of reading," said Bill. "We had all kinds of things drilled into us, but she made it fun with learning games.

"She was always a compulsive teacher."

Gloria adored her family and spent a lot of time skiing at Chicopee in Kitchener, where they had memberships before there were any mechanized ways of getting back up the hill. She skied until she was 78. Gloria also produced a newsletter for Chicopee skiers.

Daughter, Mary Penny, said her mom was the ideal role model.

"She never set limits because I was a girl," said Mary. "It's one of the most cherished feelings I got from her."

She also taught her children to volunteer, to give back to their communities.

"She was always very understated, she never sought the limelight," said Mary. "She'd shy away from recognition."

Carl died of a heart attack in 1983 and after her retirement, Gloria immersed herself fully into exploring nature.

Gloria died on Nov. 20, 2020, leaving a legacy of love for her family and a passion for nature.

"Lifetimes: Gloria Zimmerman At Home In The Great Outdoors". 2020. Therecord.Com. https://www.therecord.com/life/2020/12/07/lifetimes-gloria-zimmerman-at-home-in-the-great-outdoors.html.

Gloria married Carl Jacob Zimmerman 1952. Carl (son of John Zimmerman and Caroline Elizabeth Brown) was born 3 Nov 1912, Waterloo City, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; died 1 Jan 1983, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; was buried , Parkview Cemetery, Waterloo City, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada. [Group Sheet]