JOSEPH A. GFRORER was born on February 17, 1912 in Camden, New Jersey to Gertrude and August Gfrorer.

The Gfrorer family is listed at 1342 Pear Street in the 1914 Camden City Directory. Pear Street was renamed Whitman Avenue shortly afterwards.

From as early as June of 1917 through the compilation of the 1927 City Directory the Gfrorer family rented a home at 1332 Whitman Avenue. August Gfrorer was then working at the McAndrews & Forbes licorice works on the waterfront near South 4th and Jefferson Streets. BY 1920 the family also included older brother Albert, then 9, and younger brother August, then 6 years of age.

Sadly, by 1929 August Gfrorer had passed away. Gertrude Gfrorer and her sons were then living at 1334 Whitman Avenue. She worked at a lace factory to support her family.

Joseph A. Gfrorer was appointed to the Camden Fire Department on April 14, 1937 and assigned to Ladder Company 2. The 1940 census reveals that he and his mother were living at 1461 Pershing Street and had done so since 1935.

On Monday, March 10, 1941, a fire near Seventh and pineStreets, South Camden, nearly claimed the life of the occupant. Acting Captain John Naylor and Fireman joseph a. gfrorer of Ladder Company 2, rescued a woman from the floor above under punishing conditions. The victim was removed by portable ladder with the assistance of Fireman Herman Baker.

The 1947 Camden City Directory shows Joseph A. Gfrorer and his mother residing at 1413 Wildwood Avenue in Camden's Parkside section. They were still at that address as late as August of 1970, when Mrs. Gertrude Gfrorer died in August of 1970. Older brother Albert Gfrorer had passed away in November of 1958, and younger brother August Gfrorer in June of 1969. Joseph A. Gfrorer moved out of Camden after the residency restrictions were lifted on Camden firefighters.

On  November 17, 1948 Joseph A. Gfrorer was transferred to Engine Company 8 at 619 Kaighn Avenue. In July of 1951 he was promoted to the rank of Captain transferred to Engine Company 7 at 1115 Kaighn Avenue.  On July 12, 1968 Captain Gfrorer was promoted to Battalion Chief and assigned to the 2nd Battalion. Having reached the mandatory retirement age of 65 and after having served the City of Camden for 42 years, Chief Gfrorer retired on  February 28, 1977. His moved to Vineland, New Jersey in 1995. He died on December 30, 1997.

Two other members of the Gfrorer family have served with the Camden Fire Department. Joseph R. Gfrorer was appointed in 1961, retiring as a Deputy Chief on January 1, 2001. Anthony Gforer served as a firefighter from 1981 through 1989.