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Thomas |
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Thomas |
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THOMAS JOSEPH DiBIASO was born in Haddonfield, New Jersey on February 9, 1935 to Pauline and Carmen DiBiaso. Thomas DiBiaso enlisted in the United States Air Force in September of 1954. He was honorably discharged in June of 1958, and returned to South Jersey, where he worked at a number of jobs. Thomas DiBiaso on was appointed to the Camden Fire Department on November 29, 1968. He was then living at 2840 Pierce Avenue in Camden's Cramer Hill neighborhood. |
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Thomas
DiBiaso's career with the Camden Fire Department came to an
abrupt end on December 19, 1971, when a fire in the vacant
John
R. Evans Leather Company building in
North Camden at
North 2nd
and Erie
Streets went to a general alarm. Thomas DiBiaso was
operating the nozzle of Ladder 3, which was fully extended so
water could be put on the burning building, when, suddenly, the
ladder sheared of the truck. Thomas DiBiaso fell 30 feet,
fracturing his skull, elbow, wrist and pelvis. He retired on
full pension as a result of his injuries effective March 1,
1973. |
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Camden Courier-Post * December 26, 1968 |
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25 Firemen Finish Training In a move aimed at staffing the Camden Fire Department for a new 42-hour work week. 25 probationary firemen will be graduated from the city fire academy Monday and 10 fire officers will be given promotions Tuesday. Heading the list of fire officer promotions will be the selection of Battalion Chief Anthony C. Saponare, 51, of 117 S. 27th Street, Camden, as deputy fire chief. The new deputy chief is a 26-year veteran on the city fire force. Two fire captains to be promoted to battalion chief are Matthew J. Davies, Jr., 36, of 2819 Carman Street, Camden, and James H. Stewart, 54, of 317 Garden Avenue, Camden. Seven firemen to be named captains include William D. Hillman, 29, of 11 Crestfair Apartments, Camden; Joseph H. Arensberg, 32, of 1041 N. 32nd Street, Camden; Robert E. Briggs, 48, of 2861 Congress Road, Camden; and John Brzozowski, 28, 371 N. 34th Street, Camden. Also to be named captains are Edmund F. Gorczynski, 36, of 272 N. 33rd Street, Camden; Anthony T. Orme, 44, 3317 River Road, Camden; and William B. Young, 29, of 1126 N. 33rd Street, Camden. |
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The new firemen include Richard E. Johnson, Thomas H. Eckel, Ronald C. Crowder, John A. DeLuca, Peter P. Carbone, Robert P. Hand, Robert M. Lapp, Jerome A. Kee, Thomas V. Kane, Charles E. Mayo, James C. Peterson and George S. Szychulski, all of Camden. Other slated fire school graduates are Ronald Angemi, Robert C. Welch, Robert G. Boyle, Glenn H. Moore, Marvin W. Bendy, Thomas J. DiBiaso, Arthur J. Gibson, Daniel J. Galasso, Samuel Battle Jr., Ronald J. Boyle, Jerome J. Watson, George R. Abbey, 3rd., and William H. Huelas, all of Camden. The appointments of all 35 men become effective Jan. 1, 1969. |
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| Camden Courier-Post - December 20, 1971 | |
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| …continued… | |
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Thomas
DiBiaso David Sanders John R. Evans Leather Company Pierce Avenue Berkley Street North 2nd Street Erie Street
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Dense smoke billows from
former John R. Evans Company leather tanning plant in North Camden |
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| …continued… | |
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| Jack Plaskett - Joseph M. Nardi - James Bienkowski | |
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Ladder Company 3 (second alarm Truck) gets water on fire at the former John R. Evans Leather Company leather tanning plant in North Camden on December 19, 1971. Firefighter Thomas J. DiBiaso operating the ladder nozzle. This incident went to a Fourth Alarm. Photo by Bob Bartosz
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| Photo taken moments after Ladder Company 3's aerial fell, severely injuring Firefighter Thomas J. DiBiaso. Photo by Bob Bartosz |
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| Photo by Bob Bartosz |
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| Photo by Bob Bartosz |
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It took 3-1/2 hours to bring the blaze under control. This phot and the one below were taken shortly before the wall collapsed, as also depicted below and on the cover of FIRE ENGINEERING magazine's March 1972 edition. Photo by Bob Bartosz
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| Photo by Bob Bartosz |
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| Photo by Bob Bartosz |
| John
R. Evans & Company factory wall collapsing |
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March
1972 Edition FIRE ENGINEERING Magazine The
Fire |
| Camden Courier-Post - December 22, 1971 | |
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| …continued… | |
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Angelo
D. Malandra -
John
Giletto -
Harold
Pike Thomas DiBiaso - Thomas Grieff John R. Evans Leather Company Cooper Hospital - North 2nd Street - Erie Street |
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| Camden Courier-Post * June 10, 2014 |
Thomas
J. DiBiaso
AGE: 79 • Formerly of Cherry Hill
Thomas J. DiBiaso of Cape May Court House, formerly of Cherry Hill, died June 8, 2014. He
was
79. Beloved husband of Madalena (nee Lucero). Loving father of Jacqueline DiBiaso of Cape
May
Court House, NJ; Jeannette Bonitatis (Joe) of Marlton, NJ; Rita Thomas (Jeff) of Harrisburg,
PA;
Donna DiBiaso of Cape May Court House, NJ; Thomas F. DiBiaso of Mt. Laurel, NJ and Lisa
Shannon
(Tim) of Cherry Hill, NJ. Devoted grandfather of Dannette and Dustin Bonitatis; Tim and
Kelsey
Shannon; and Michael and Samantha Thomas. Devoted great grandfather of Xavier Bonitatis.
Dear
brother of Daniel DiBiaso of Denmark. He was a retired Camden City Fireman.
Viewing Thursday evening 7 to 9pm and Friday morning 9 to 10am in the Schetter Funeral Home,
304
West Marlton Pike, Cherry Hill, NJ 08002. Mass of Christian Burial Friday 11am in Christ The
King RC Church, 200 Windsor Avenue, Haddonfield, NJ 08033. Interment Locustwood Memorial
Park,
Cherry Hill, NJ. In lieu of flowers contributions in his memory may be made to American
Cancer
Society American Cancer Society 1851 Old Cuthbert Road, Cherry Hill, NJ 08034. Please visit
schetterfh.com to share your condolences with the family.
