Called to respect lifeRespect Life volunteers of the year announced Posted: 11.03.09 ORLANDO | Each diocese in the state selected a recipient for volunteer of the year awards presented at this year’s Florida Respect Life Conference, which took place Oct. 16-18 at the Lake Mary Marriott Conference Center in the hosting Diocese of Orlando. In the three dioceses for which editions of the Florida Catholic are published, the winners were: Jim Styer, Diocese of Venice; Margarita Fuerbacher, Diocese of Orlando; and Hank McGann, Diocese of Palm Beach. According to Jeanne Berdeaux, Venice respect life director, Styer has been a champion of the unborn since moving to Sarasota more than six years ago. He serves as a respect life representative for St. Martha Parish, president of Sarasota-Manatee Right to Life, and a member of the Knights of Columbus. He has been a leader in organizing prayer vigils and sidewalk counseling outside Planned Parenthood in Sarasota and has served on the 40 Days for Life planning team for three years. Berdeaux also described Styer as “go-to man” whenever anyone in the pro-life cause needs statistics or information. Deborah Stafford Shearer, Orlando respect life director, said Fuerbacher has committed herself to active pro-life ministry for more than 23 years. She has been a volunteer at her community pregnancy center for 17 years while also raising eight children with her husband and serving as respect life coordinator for the last five years at her parish, Our Lady of the Lakes Parish in Deltona. She has been instrumental in organizing and promoting diocesan pro-life activities such as participation in the Florida March for Life in St. Augustine, Helpers of God’s Precious Infants rosary vigils, 40 Days for Life and Catholic Days at the Capitol. Palm Beach respect life director Don Kazimer said McGann was chosen for his many years defending the unborn. McGann was a founder of Connect Right to Life in 1972 and served as president for several years. He is in his second term as president of Palm Beach County Right to Life. Kazimer said McGann has been instrumental in establishing a monument to the unborn at his parish, the Cathedral of St. Ignatius Loyola in Palm Beach Gardens. The monument is under construction near the church entrance.
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