Anabel Brunermer, force behind creation of county 911 communications system, dies
A figure whose lifesaving leadership was the driving force behind the creation of the county’s emergency communications system died Monday.
Anabel Brunermer was 95 years old when she died at Sunnyview Nursing Center.
Brunermer, who served as president of the GFWC Intermediate League of Butler in 1969, spearheaded the groundbreaking system for emergency communications that year.
The idea, which served as a model for similar systems throughout Pennsylvania and the United States, drew on inspiration from a Reader’s Digest article Brunermer read at that time. She presented this approach to Arthur Megan, then mayor of Butler, who helped develop it into a system that relied on a single console and a single tape recorder.
That 911 service helped firefighters, police and emergency medical crews respond faster and more efficiently calls, Steve Bicehouse said during a tribute to her in 2021.
Brunermer also contributed her energy to non-profit organizations throughout the community, such as the General Federation of Women’s Club with which she remained active for 65 years.
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