Introduction
The City of Camden NJ has seen twenty-three of its fire fighters lay their lives down while serving the public interest. Fire fighting is a dangerous job, and many other men have been badly injured and disabled while protecting Camden and its residents over the years. Without a doubt the general public owes a debt of gratitude to its fire fighters and rescue squad personnell.
Phillip Cohen
Webmaster, dvrbs.com
Camden Fire Fighters Fallen in the Line of Duty
| Name | Rank | Company / Assignment | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Charles Berry | Fire Fighter | Engine Company 4 | November 1, 1892* |
| William Bogia | Fire Fighter | Engine Company 1 | October 20, 1894 |
| Wilson Bromley | Fire Fighter | Engine Company 1 | February 28, 1896 |
| William Hillman | Fire Fighter | Ladder Company 2 | March 16, 1906 |
| William Jobes | Fire Fighter | Engine Company 1 | March 16, 1906 |
| George Shields | Fire Fighter | Ladder Company 2 | March 16, 1906 |
| Lewis Buzine | Fire Fighter | Engine Company 3 | October 13, 1912 |
| Charles Worthington | Chief of Department | Fire Headquarters | May 8, 1914 |
| Joseph Ware | Fire Fighter | Engine Company 1 | July 21, 1914 |
| Martin Carrigan | Captain | Engine Company 3 | January 19, 1922 |
| James McDade | Fire Fighter | Engine Company 6 | July 4, 1922 |
| John Reilly | Fire Fighter | Engine Company 4 | January 19, 1925 |
| William Merrigan | Fire Fighter | Engine Company 3 | July 30, 1940 |
| Frank Iannelli | Fire Fighter | Engine Company 9 | April 5, 1942 |
| Earl Toy | Fire Fighter | Aide — 1st Battalion | April 22, 1944* |
| Elwood Menzies | Fire Fighter | Engine Company 8 | January 12, 1948 |
| Dominick Persiani | Fire Fighter | Engine Company 7 | May 19, 1953 |
| Edward G. Glaze | Fire Fighter | Engine Company 7 | February 8, 1958 |
| William Deitz | Battalion Chief | 2nd Battalion HQ | November 14, 1962 |
| Leonard Iannelli | Captain | Ladder Company 2 | January 14, 1964 |
| Ernest Tartaglia | Fire Fighter | Rescue Company 1 | December 9, 1967 |
| Earl Smith | Fire Fighter | Aide — 3rd Battalion | April 7, 1968 |
| Carmen Iannelli | Fire Fighter | Engine Company 9 | June 5, 1975 |
| George M. Jackson | Fire Fighter | Ladder Company 2 | March 13, 2006 |
* Recently discovered information shows that Charles Berry died on March 21, 1893.
Edward Jubb was a former Camden Fire Fighter who was killed while lending assistance to his brother fire fighters on May 9, 1894.
Camden Firemen's Memorial Dedication
On September 9, 2006 the Camden Firemen’s Memorial was formally dedicated. Relatives of all but 9 of the fallen were located prior to the ceremony. On September 9, 2006 the Camden NJ Fire Department celebrated their 137th Anniversary along with this they paid Tribute to twenty-four (24) Members who paid The Supreme Sacrifice. The first member who Died In The Line Of Duty on November 1, 1892 and the last member who Died In The Line Of Duty on March 7, 2006. After many months of work over sixty (60) Relatives and Family Members of fifteen (15) of the twenty-four (24) Fallen Fighters were found and invited to the Dedication and Ceremony of the Monument. It was placed in front of Fire Headquarters at 3rd and Federal Streets. Monsignor Michael Mannion gave the Invocation and blessing of the monument. As a piper from the Camden Emerald Society played Amazing Grace, Camden’s Chief of the Department Joseph Marini read out the name and date of each of the Fallen twenty-four (24) Fire Fighters with the strike of a fire bell. Wreaths and flowers were placed by family members and Locals IAFF 788 and 2578 also by members of the Anniversary Committee. Many of the family members were very grateful for this event and praised the Camden Fire Department for paying Tribute to their deceased Love Ones.
John 15:13 — Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.
Named: Dedication of the Camden Firemen’s Memorial, Fire Headquarters, Third and Federal Streets, Camden NJ, and Saturday September 9, 2006, 9:00 AM.
Dedication Ceremony
Photographs by Bob Bartosz —
Camden Firemen’s Memorial Dedication Ceremony, September 9, 2006.
Members of the Persiani Family — the nephew and sister of Fire Fighter Dominick Persiani.
Edward Glaze Jr., son of Fire Fighter Edward Glaze.
Members of the Iannelli Family. Left: Olga Iannelli, widow of Captain Leonard Iannelli. Right: Jean Iannelli, widow of Fire Fighter Carmen Iannelli.
Daughters of Fallen Fire Fighter William Deitz.
Ginny Shapleigh, granddaughter of Fire Fighter Joseph Ware, at far left, with Edward Glaze Jr. (center), son of Fire Fighter Edward Glaze, and the Glaze grandchildren.
Ginny and Bob Shapleigh. Ginny’s grandfather was fire fighter Joseph Ware.
Members of the Edward Glaze Family. Mrs. Blanche Polniak, second from left, is a cousin of the late Edward Glaze. Her husband, Ludwig Polniak, was a retired Camden fire fighter.
Chief Marini addressing the attendees.
Chief Marini reading the names of the fallen. Lee Ryan at the bell.
Chief Marini reading the names of the fallen.
…a moment of silence…
…and a salute.
Wreath presented by I.A.F.F. Local 788.
Members of the Ernest Tartaglia Family.
Members of the Iannelli Family. From Left: Joanne Iannelli McAllister, Frank Iannelli, Jean Iannelli, Olga Iannelli, Dennis Iannelli.
Three of the Anniversary & Monument Committee with wreaths. Camden Fire Department Historian Lee Ryan, Camden Fire Department Fire Photographer Bob Bartosz, Retired Captain Richard Tate, Camden Fire Department.
Grandchildren of the latest Fallen Fighter George Jackson pay tribute to their Grandfather.
Dedication Ceremony
Photographs by Phil Cohen —
Camden Firemen’s Memorial Dedication Ceremony, September 9, 2006. Photographs by Phil Cohen.
Daughters of Fallen Fire Fighter William Deitz.
Members of the Persiani Family — the nephew and sister of Fire Fighter Dominick Persiani.
Blackwood NJ Tower Ladder 44.
Members of the Iannelli Family — Patricia Speckman, Arlene Schall, & Annie Giambrone.
Members of the Persiani family.
Members of the Iannelli Family. John DeLuca Jr., John DeLuca Sr., Eleanor DeLuca, Annie DeLuca, Jennie DeLuca, John DeLuca III.
Members of the Iannelli Family. John DeLuca Jr., Eleanor DeLuca.
Camden Firemen’s Memorial Dedication Ceremony, September 9, 2006.
Edward Glaze Jr. & Edward Glaze III (with cameras).
Jean Iannelli, Bob Bartosz, Olga Iannelli. Jean is the widow of Fire Fighter Carmen Iannelli, Olga is the widow of Fallen Fire Fighter Leonard Iannelli.
Livia Wrigley and Lee Ryan.
Monsignor Michael Mannion & retired Camden Fire Department member John E. “Jack” Maher.
Camden Fire Department Fire Photographer Bob Bartosz.
Camden Firemen’s Memorial Dedication Ceremony, September 9, 2006.
Dennis Iannelli, son of Captain Leonard Iannelli.
Camden Fire Department Fire Marshal Ralph Roberts.
Camden Firemen’s Memorial Dedication Ceremony, September 9, 2006.
Named: Ed Stratton, Jose Berrios, Ed Frontado, and Damon Truitt..
Monsignor Michael Mannion delivering the Invocation. To his left, Chief of Department Joseph Marini; to his right Fire Fighter Rodney Carter, Battalion Chief Darryl Lewison, Deputy Chief Greg Murphy, Deputy Chief Paul Price.
Lee Ryan (wearing black shirt) tolls the bell for each of the Fallen.
Ron Taylor, Bagpiper from the Camden Emerald Society.
Chief of Department Joseph Marini, Camden Fire Department, reading names of the Fallen.
Camden Firemen’s Memorial Dedication Ceremony, September 9, 2006.
Members of the Persiani family.
Bob & Ginny Shapleigh. Ginny’s grandfather was fire fighter Joseph Ware.
Camden Firemen’s Memorial Dedication Ceremony, September 9, 2006.
Left: Captain John Honer, New Jersey Division of Fire Safety. Right: Deputy Chief Greg Murphy, Camden Fire Department.
Camden Firemen’s Memorial Dedication Ceremony, September 9, 2006.
Camden Fire Fighter Orlando Torres.
Dwayne Dixon — Chris Edwards.
Oaklyn Fire Department Assistant Chief Hudson and Fire Fighter Aviles, Camden Fire Department.
In foreground, retired Camden Fire Department member John E. “Jack” Maher talking to Fire Fighter Larry Smith, son of fallen Fire Fighter Earl Smith. Behind them, Mrs. Pat Bartosz speaking with Deputy Chief Paul Price (holding white hat).
Larry Smith, son of fallen Fire Fighter Earl Smith.
Mrs. Blanche Polniak, second from left, is a cousin of the late Edward Glaze. Her husband, Ludwig Polniak, was a retired Camden fire fighter.