Family, Friends & Fellow Officers Remember...

Denise,

May you find peace and comfort this holiday season and always until you are reunited with Bert once again. You have and always will be in my thoughts. Keep your chin up. We will both get through this. I know Duke and Bert will see to it. I am only an email away if you ever need anything.

Love and hugs,
Jenn

Jennifer Aaron
Wife of Ofc. Duke G. Aaron, III (EOW 07/20/04)

December 6, 2004

Hi honey. I can not believe you have been gone 10 months. Sometimes it seems like only yesterday. They are dedicating the road you were killed on on Dec 12, 2004 at 1:00. They are renaming the highway the TROOPER BERTRAM ZIMMERMAN MEMORIAL HIGHWAY. You would be so proud of Zachery Farkus (son of Lt. Matt Farkus of the NJSP). So young and so dedicated to this project of honoring your memory the way it should be. I am so proud of him for everything he has done for this.

It is so hard dealing with you being gone, but most especially during the holidays. I so miss decorating our house together and putting up our Christmas tree. You always did try to hide your presents and I always snooped around for them! Our first Christmas married and both of us living in our house for our first Christmas is one memory I will cherish forever. I am so glad we had that. I love you Bert and I miss you so much!
Love your wife, Denise

Denise Zimmerman
Surviving Spouse of NJ State Trooper Bert Zimmerman 02-05-04

December 5, 2004

Bert,
Last week was Thanksgiving, and it wasn't the same without you. I remember last year when you were at my house,and how you always wanted one of the legs. This year we didn't let anyone eat the legs. Thank you for looking over Joey when he had his surgery. Wait until you see what your nieces and nephews are making for your memorial. And Phil is going to have a surprise for you too!

Sister of Bert Zimmerman

December 4, 2004

Bert,
Just wishing you were here to celebrate the holidays with the people who loved you. You would be proud of Denise during these hard times. Our prayers are with your family, Denise and all who loved you. I'm sure you are still taking care of us from Heaven.

Betty B.

November 29, 2004

I would like to take this time to say that you are dearly missed. The meal yesterday was nice but it would of been wonderful if you could of been there with us for the holiday. I realize you were there in spirit but it is not the same. Take care, watch over us all, and we love you.


Aunt Sue 11/26/04

November 26, 2004

Happy Thanksgiving Friend!!! Wish it could have been spent like last year, but I know it is in spirit. Miss you and keep watching over us like you are.

November 26, 2004

Hi my honey. Today is Thanksgiving. But to me, its anything but. I will always remember that turkey was one of your favorite foods! And you loved my moms turkey! Anytime you did work around my parents house and wouldn't take money, my mom always said that she would cook whatever you wanted and you always wanted her to make turkey! And she did, even when it wasn't Thanksgiving. Even when you were working, you'd stop by my parents house for Thanksgiving and my parents would make you things to take in the troop car with you (usually many turkey sandwiches!) and then send you on your way. I would give anything to see you eat turkey now.

I have decided that I am not celebrating anything. I am going to spend some time with you at the cemetery and then I am going to light the candles in your memory. I am going to do that every holiday every year as well as your birthday and our anniversary. I am glad I have the memorial paragraph to read as I light them. Other than that, I am not celebrating today. Jayda and I are just going to have a "normal" day...well as normal as it can be. I love you so much and I wish you were here with us during these holidays, but I know you wish you were and I know you are with us in spirit. I know you would probably want me to be happy at the holidays because you know how much I love them and you would want me to be around my family and friends, but everyone deals with things differently, and this is how I choose to deal with them this year...alone. I love you with all my heart and I miss you more than I could ever try to explain.
Love your wife,
Denise
7777777

Denise Zimmerman
Surviving Spouse of NJ State Trooper Bert Zimmerman 02-05-04

November 25, 2004

hey bert, haven't been here in a while, lots of things are going on that I know you know about. Just wanted to say hello and that you are still missed dearly.

November 22, 2004

Well Bert I haven't visited the site for awhile and I was thinking about you, so I thought I would visit. I really do miss you, more than you know. I know you miss us just as much. Please take care and watch over us. The holidays are approaching us fast. This time of year is special to us all. I know you will be with us in spirit and missed at that time by all.
Love you.

November 18, 2004

As I was leaving Camden County College this afternoon I saw a car with a memorial to you on the back window... I wish I could have had the opportunity to have met you...from all the reflections that have been left here it is evident that you were a wonderful man and an excellent Trooper. God Speed

November 17, 2004

Hi honey. Today I went to the National Police Memorial in Washington DC. The wall there is beautiful and such an amazing tribute to you and the rest of the fallen angels in heaven. I am sure the wall will look much different to me when your name is on it though. I want you to know that I think about you every day.....actually, there doesnt seem to be a MINUTE that goes by that I don't. I miss you so much and I love you with all my heart.
Love your wife, Denise

Denise Zimmerman
Surviving Spouse of NJ State Trooper Bert Zimmerman 02-05-04

November 10, 2004

Rest in peace and know that your memory forever lives on. Thank You for your service and dedication!

NJ Corrections Officer

November 6, 2004

Nine months in many things do not feel like a long time, but I can honestly say that the nine months that you have been gone seem like an eternity. Take care my friend. Watch over all who love and honor you.

November 5, 2004

Denise, your in our hearts and prayers this day and always. we love you. your part of our family, and through you we will continue to make bert happy up in heaven.
i will be at the grave today to put flowers on his and mommys. Denise i never forget him. and thank him for giving us you!
we love you

lorraine

November 5, 2004

I hate every month that has the 5th in it, because that is another month added on to how long you've been gone. I swear sometimes it feels like forever since I've seen you and sometimes it feels like you were just here. 9 months ago today you were taken from me. I would do anything in this world to have you back. I know you know I loved you with all my heart and soul and thats all that matters. Only you and I know what love we had for each other. I wish I could have that back. You were everything to me, my whole world. I hate that if I want to see you now, I have to look at a picture, or pray that I dream about you before I go to bed every night. I miss you so much Bert, I hope you are happy where you are. I think that the only thing that gives me some kind of comfort knowing your in heaven is that you are with your dad. And I know how much you missed him while you were on this earth. I think about how you are not alone up there and how he is with you and that gives me some peace. I go to see him too at the cemetary and pray that he carries on my job of taking care of you.
I LOVE YOU FOREVER BERT. Love, Denise

Denise Zimmerman
Surviving Spouse of NJ State Trooper Bert Zimmerman 02-05-04

November 5, 2004

dearest bert, tomorrow is the fifth. every month at this time i think of what happened in the middle of the night in february. the phone rang and the news came. the news i dreaded since you became a police officer.
i pray for everyone who knew you and went though that horrible night. the officers that were with you. i pray for them, that they continue on the path of being such great men. and the courage they showed to you and everyone in the family during that week of planning. all the while suffering your death.
you were a great person, husband and police officer. the best! what a great and horrible loss for everyone of us that were part of your life.
your in mine and all of our hearts bert. we carry you with us with all that we do.
i know you already no about the news in our family. i know your smiling.
i love and miss you boy. watch over us, and continue to protect everyone the way you did when you were part of this world.
i still cant believe your gone.

lorraine

November 4, 2004

Bert, I did not know you but I wear the same uniform as you. I attended your funeral along with the thousands of others and I read the many reflections left by friends and family. What a testament to the type of individual you are. Why bad things happen to good people we will never know. Honor Duty Fidelity. Godspeed Bro!

Jersey Trooper
NJSP

November 4, 2004

I have known many New Jersey State Troopers in my life and I hold all of the men and women of The NJSP in the highest regard. God speed troop, you will always be in our prayers.

Deputy
LCSO

November 1, 2004

Bert,

I wanted to say HAPPY HALLOWEEN!! Jenna is being Sleeping Beauty and Bobby is Batman. And I will be wearing my Dawkins jersey as I do every Sunday. The holidays even the small ones are very hard and just not the same but we continue to celebrate them. We do this because we know that this is what you would of wanted us to do. I know that you wouldn't of wanted us to stop celebrating the holidays just because we were hurting and missing you. You would want us to continue on with the traditions we had and to celebrate all the holidays as if you were hear with us. Because as we celebrate each holiday I know you will be right their celebrating them with us.

I miss you more than you'll ever know. It just isn't the same here without you. Jenna & Bobby also miss and love you very much. Please continue to look down on us as we will always remember you and keep your memory alive. I continue to see how many lives you have touched and just how many people loved you. I LOVE YOU & MISS YOU!!!!

XOXOXOXO
LOVE, JAMIE

JAMIE MANOS
BERT'S SISTER

October 31, 2004

Gosh, it was good to read your wife's reflections and know that you are still all around us. I have always believed that life is eternal, that just a thin veil separates the soul from the physical body. Ever since I was a little girl I could hear people speak to me from the other side, but I didn't know what I was listening to. Then I began to read about other folks experiencing psychic occurances and I knew that there was a lot more to our life than just what we could see.

From the reflections I have read about you, you were quite a guy (and couple). May your wings fly you high. Now you can release the surly bonds of earth, reach out and touch the face of God. Please continue to watch over us and guide us from above. We also need your prayers. We love you, dear one and we will meet someday.

Grandma & Grandpa Hinkle
Parents of a Deputy Sheriff

October 30, 2004

So often I look around our house and wonder why this all happened....why you....why us? I swear sometimes I can still see you where I last saw you in our living room. I look around at all the wonderful things you have done to our house and I swear I could see you standing there still working on them. Whenever I hear anyone walk through our front door, just the sound of that reminds me of you saying "Yooooo honey, I'm home!" I miss you so much Bert and I wish more than anything that you were here with me. I often think about the early morning hours of February 5, and how I pray and pray that you were not afraid. That is one thing I worry about a lot. I know you better than you knew yourself sometimes, and I knew that there was very very little, if anything, that you were afraid of...but I just pray that you were not afraid or that you knew what was happening when the car lost control. I thank God every night that you died instantly and peacefully. If you suffered, I dont know how I could deal with that. I hope you didnt hurt for even a half a second.

I love you Bert, and I miss you more than anything in this world. I hope you know that. But I am sure you hear me tell you every night.

Love your wife,
Denise

Denise Zimmerman
Surviving Spouse of NJ State Trooper Bert Zimmerman 02-05-04

October 26, 2004

Last Call

What a precious soul, this lost
Why must the good, always pay the cost?
Rest in peace sir, in the arms of God
Thank you for your service, in your job

I read so much, in what was reflected upon
So much admiration, in all you have done
The true measures of a man, the right height
You had a belief, in all your reasons to fight

I didn't know you, I live miles away
But it tears me up, as they put you to lay
You helped so many, wearing the blues
Not just anybody, can fill those shoes

I pray for your family, to ease the tears they cried
I know the pain hurts, but they must be filled with pride
To be a part of you, and all you stood for
So high in life, you have set the bar

Rest in peace my brother, as gently you lie
Heaven waits, as I wipe the tears from my eye
You have done your best, stand proud and tall
A moment of silence, as you take your last call

by danny b. bourg

October 20, 2004

I just can not believe that you have be gone for close to nine months. Everyone misses you dearly. It is not the same, for we all miss hearing about your adventures on patrol. I know you have been watching over everyone for they have been getting their own individual signs. Keep it up, it helps knowing that you are with us and keeping us safe.

October 20, 2004

Bert...

I knew you long ago when we were in middle school together. After that we never really saw each other much as our lives took different paths. I ran into you every so often when I came back to NJ to visit. It saddens me that your not with us anymore but I know you even though you are not here you are still watching over your family and friends.

My prayers are with you and your family Bert... you maybe gone...but never forgotten...

Ofc. J. Stolinski
U.S. Customs and Border Protection

October 14, 2004

8 months bert. i still cant believe your gone. i miss you! i hung that crystal up by my back door. the light reflecting during the day onto it, is so beautiful! it keeps your spirit alive. we wish you were still here with us. and your are, in our hearts forever.

lorraine

October 12, 2004