Zigler receives Ann Phillips Award for courage
In an effort to recognize one special person for his or her acts of courage and a commitment to the Greater Pine Island community, members of the Matlacha Hookers recently announced its recipient of the annual Ann Phillips Award. The award was established two years ago when Buzzy Phillips from Raymond James Investments on Pine Island approached the Hookers to ask that an award be presented in the name of his deceased wife.
“Ann spent many years enduring three bouts with cancer, painful arthritis and the crippling affects of ostioporosis. Yet, even on her death, many people commented that they never new that Ann had any health problems as she put all of her energy into helping when she could and always with a smile,” said Phillips.
This year, the Ann Phillips Award for Courage, was presented to island resident Cookie Zigler.
“Cookie is one of the first people I met when I came to Pine Island and I am very delighted with the Hookers’ selection,” Phillips said. “She is a wonderful person and very deserving of this award.”
Presenting the award was Eagle Editor Marianne Paton, who told of some of the hurdles that have been overcome by Zigler during the last few years. According to Paton, Zigler had become a familiar fixture at Pork Bellies Restaurant and as a waitress was considered one of the island’s best.
“Cookie is well known for her efficient service and always greeting her customers with a warm smile. What most did not know about her was her private life. Never one to wear her hardships on her sleeve, Cookie, a single mom, struggled to support her three children, raising them in a very small trailer on the island,” said Paton. “Cookie continued to work hard yet never complained or sought sympathy.”
Zigler and her family were selected to receive the first Habitat for Humanity home on Pine Island, however her days of hard work were far from over.
“Some may think this is a happy ending to her story, but it only begins here. These homes are not a gift, they are something that must be earned and earn this home she did,” Paton said.
According to Paton, Zigler managed to raise the $1,200 deposit needed to qualify for the home, put in 500 sweat equity hours working to help build homes for other families and attended several exhausting classes on homeownership and maintenance also required by Habitat for Humanity.
“Once in her home, her commitment to Habitat didn’t end,” Paton said. “One of the many fund-raisers held by the Pine Island Habitat committee was a breakfast, easy right? No menu, just serve meals and collect tickets.
“The Sunday morning of the breakfast, all was going well as people trickled in, filling tables and getting served by the volunteers,” Paton continued. “Then church let out. Suddenly more than 150 hungry people filed into Woody’s Waterside and the waitstaff went into a panic. Cookie came to the rescue. Flying into action, she filled trays with coffee and juice and instructed the rooky waitresses to go around, greet the new guests and make sure they had a beverage in front of them. Cookie’s professional experience and willingness to jump in and bail out what could have been an ugly situation saved the day.”
The Ann Phillips Award recipients are selected through nominations from the Hookers membership. The nominees are then reviewed by the Ann Phillips Committee, which then presents its candidate for consideration to the Hookers board of directors. This year’s, as well as last year’s, nominees received unanimous votes of approval from the board.
The naming of the this year’s recipient was met with a standing ovation from the more than 90 members attending the March general membership meeting.
This winter, Zigler was diagnosed with breast cancer and due to her ongoing treatments was unable to accept the award in person.
Last year’s recipient of the Ann Phillips Award was presented to Marlene Skein, who has since lost her battle with cancer.