Birthday Girl's Wish Is Friends' Command

By The Tampa Tribune
Published: March 11, 2009

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PLANT CITY --

Helga Zipser of South Tampa celebrated her 84th birthday March 2 at the Plant City Strawberry Festival.

Several months ago, she told two friends she always had wanted to see the festival and eat a huge strawberry shortcake. The friends, Sue Sutker and Laura York, resolved to grant her wish.

"Today reminds me of festivals from my childhood," Zipser said. She was born and lived in Bielefeld, Germany, until 1939, when her family moved to New York City. She and her late husband, Lester, came to Tampa in 1948, where her husband was one of the first interns and residents at Tampa General Hospital. South Tampa has been her home for more than 60 years.