Edward J. Brendlinger
Edward J. Brendlinger – Camden Fire Department
Edward J. Brendlinger was born in Camden on May 20, 1927 to Edward and Myrtle Brendlinger. The family, which included an older sister named Myrtle after her mother, had moved to Camden shortly before he was born. The 1930 Census shows the family living in the Poets’ Row section of North Camden, at 235 Byron Street. Next door at 237 lived the Harry Janice Sr. family; son Harry Janice Jr., a few years older than Edward Brendlinger, later served on the Camden Board of Education and was politically active much of his life. Another son, Richard Janice, followed Ed Brendlinger onto the Camden Fire Department where they both served many years.
The Brendlingers had two more children after the 1930 Census, Fred and Kathleen. The elder Brendlinger supported his family as a sign painter.
After serving in the United States Navy during World War II, Edward Brendlinger returned to Camden. The 1947 City Directory shows him living with his wife, the former Harriet Holshue, at 439 Chambers Avenue in South Camden. His parents had left the city, eventually moving to Maple Shade. By 1959 the Edward and Harriet Brendlinger had moved to 1104 Fairview Street where they lived into the 1980s. They later moved to Bellmawr, New Jersey.
On December 29, 1950 Edward J. Brendlinger was appointed to the Camden Fire Department. He reported for duty on January 1, 1951. Edward Brendlinger was serving with Rescue Company 1 in 1963.
On December 1, 1965 Edward J. Brendlinger was promoted to the rank of Captain. He served with Engine Company 10 in the early 1970s. He retired exactly 16 years later, on December 1, 1981. He apparently ran an electrical contracting business out of the Fairview address for several years.
Edward J. Brendlinger died on October 10, 2003, survived by his wife, three children, and a host of grandchildren and great-grandchildren, as well as his younger brother and sister.
Woman Gas Victim Saved by Camden Rescue Squad
Camden Courier-Post —
The hour-long effort of a fire department rescue squad Friday night saved a woman who tried to kill herself by gas.
Police said Mrs. Florence Marshall, 46, of 330 North Tenth Street, locked herself in the bathroom and turned on a gas jet. They added she was despondent because her daughter, Eva, 22, was planning to marry and leave home.
A son, William, 19, broke down the bathroom door and dragged the mother from the room. Patrolmen John Voll and Harrison Wilkinson were called and summoned the rescue squad headed by Captains Godfrey Patterson and George Boone.
It took the squad an hour to revive Mrs. Marshall by artificial respiration. She was taken to Cooper hospital and later to police headquarters, where she was released for a hearing Monday on a charge of attempted suicide.
Other members of Rescue Squad 1 are George Baxter, William Watkin, John Mogck, Edward Brendlinger, Arthur Ballinghoff, Christopher Moll, Edwin Decker, Carl Wirtz, Robert Olesiewicz, John Kolessar and Raymond Banford.
5 Children Die in South Jersey Waters
Camden Courier-Post —
Auto Plunge, Fishing Mishap Hit 2 Families
Five children were drowned Wednesday in two separate water mishaps in the South Jersey area.
A brother and sister lost their lives in a futile attempt to save another sister who toppled into Cooper River in Camden County Park shortly after 4:15 p.m.
At Sea Isle City the two children of an RCA official drowned when a car driven by their mother plunged into a 20-foot channel.
Victims of the Cooper River tragedy were Riley Drummond, 12, and his sisters, Terry, 7, and Mary, 8. They were the children of Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Drummond, of 912 Chestnut st.
Planning N. J. Home
The two who lost their lives in Sea Isle City were Charles Daly 3d, 10, and his sister, Ellen Patricia, 7, whose parents, Charles and Eleanor K. Daly, recently sold their home at 135 Woodlawn ave., Upper Darby, Pa., preparatory to occupying their new home at 828 Longwood dr., Haddonfield.
The Drummond children drowned shortly after 4 o’clock less than a block from Kaighns ave. They had been fishing all afternoon alongside the park dam bridge.
The lone witness to the tragedy, Albert J. Davis, 11, of 917 Chestnut st., who had been with the three, told police that Mary stepped on a rock, slipped and toppled into the water. Hearing her sister scream, Terry jumped into the river. Riley followed his sisters in an effort to save them. Albert said the two girls disappeared immediately. Riley started back to the bank but slipped backwards into the water.
Soldiers Lend Aid
The Davis boy ran three blocks to the location of B Battery, 19th AA Battalion and told the soldiers there of the accident. They notified police and firemen. At the same time nine enlisted men ran to the river and began diving for the children.
Rescue Squad 1 from 5th and Arch sts. went to the scene and was joined by the Highland Emergency Squad of Pennsauken Township.
Police and firemen grappled from rowboats while the soldiers in bathing suits searched underwater. The bodies of Terry and Riley were recovered half an hour later. Rescue squad crewmen worked for more than 35 minutes in an effort to revive them. Dr. William A. West, of Cooper Hospital, pronounced the two dead.
Third Body Recovered
The body of Mary eluded all recovery efforts until shortly after 9 p.m. when it was located by Edward Brendlinger, a fireman attached to the rescue squad. It was found 25 feet offshore and within 20 feet of the spot where Riley and Terry’s bodies were taken from the water. Firemen said the water is 16 feet deep.
Mary’s body was taken to Cooper Hospital morgue where she was pronounced dead.
The rescue efforts were directed by Fire Chief Harry Wagner.
Father Collapses
The children’s father, a stevedore employed by the Independent Pier Co., Philadelphia, was reported to have collapsed when he learned of the tragedy. He later joined the crowd estimated at 2000 people which lined the river bank to watch the grappling.
Drummond said the three children never had been to the river, having been told to keep away from the water. He said he was surprised to learn the children had been using homemade fishing poles.
Ironically, Mrs. Viola Ringo, 20, a married sister of the three children, was driving by the scene and saw the crowds watching the rescue attempts. She joined the throng and when Riley’s body was brought out of the water, police said she cried hysterically, “That’s my brother.” In addition to Mrs. Ringo, the Drummonds have two other children, Josephine, 15, and Karl, 23.
NO HOPE is expressed in the face of this fireman as he and other firemen vainly try to revive Riley Drummond, 12, and his sister, Terry, 7, two of the three Drummond children drowned Wednesday afternoon at Cooper River Park. The body of the third victim, Mary, 8, was taken from the river five hours later. Shown working (left to right) are Fireman Wesley Faust, Capt. Arthur Batten, Firemen John Yates, of Rescue Squad 1, Mario Fattore, of Engine 2, and Henry Keebler [sic], of Engine 3.
Firemen Here Get Advanced First Aid Course
Camden Courier-Post —
More than 40 members of the Camden Fire Department have completed the Red Cross course in advanced first aid according to announcement today by Howard F. Keller, Collingswood, chairman of the Camden County Chapter’s first aid committee.
Instruction sessions were under the direction of Fire Chief William V. Pfefferle, Drillmaster Anthony Dzinski, a member of the local chapter first aid group, assisted by Nicholas E. George, were instructors. Dzinski is a member of the Red Cross faculty at the National Aquatic School held in this area each year for instruction in advance safety techniques. Dick Harris, director of Red Cross safety services, supervised.
All members of the graduating class are personnel of several units housed at fire department headquarters here. These include the Headquarters Company, Engine Company 2, Rescue Squad 1 and Truck Company 1. These groups include:
Rescue Squad: Captains Arthur Batten, Philip A. Stinger and Albert Weller; Edward Brendlinger, Harrison Macneir, Robert Olesiewicz and James W. Smith.
Headquarters Company: Raymond Banford, John K. Voll and John W. Yates.
Truck Company 1: Captains Daniel Jiannetto, Robert E. Dukes and Otto V. Kaiser; William Watkin, Chester Gedrich, George Baxter, John Mogck, George C. Hennessy, Charles Devlin, Ambrose W. Faust, Joseph McTaggart, Howard R. Taggart, William G. Winstanley and Elmer Johnson Jr.
Engine Company 2: Captains James R. Asher, Thomas Winstanley; Carl Wirtz, James McGrory, Edwin V. Decker, James Stewart, Francis X. McTaggart, Anthony T. Orme, Mario D. Fattore, James O. Jones, Francis P. Stibi, William Hopkins, Robert E. Briggs, John Guiliano, Casper Martelli, Harold H. Pike, John J. Vane, William Stibi, John DiMaggio and Harry Kleinfelder.
Rescue at Cooper River, July 18, 1960
July 18, 1960 — An industrial accident with a fatality at the Cooper River at Baird Avenue. A front end loader flipped off the embankment pinning the operator underwater. In the foreground without shirt: Battalion Chief William Deitz, 2nd Battalion, who first arrived at scene and attempted rescue of operator. Members of Rescue Company 1 are Fireman Edward Brendlinger (kneeling on the machine’s wheel) and Firemen John Mogck Jr. and James McGrory in the boat. Battalion Chief Deitz would later be killed in the line of duty and Fireman John Mogck would become Chief of Department.
A Consultation in Tactics, 1971
Captain Edward Brendlinger of Engine Company 10 with Battalion Chief Thomas McCabe of 2nd Battalion at a Fourth alarm fire in South Camden, 1971.
Camden Fire Department Personnel Record
Named: Camden Division of Fire, Personnel Record, Edward J. Brendlinger, and Badge No. 74.
Obituary
Camden Courier-Post —
BRENDLINGER, EDWARD JOSEPH On October 10, 2003, age 76, of Bellmawr, NJ. Beloved husband of Harriet E. (nee Holshue). Loving father of Carol H. Siwakowski of Gloucester, Edward J. Jr., of Bellmawr, Kathleen G. of Bellmawr. Grandfather of Edward J. Correll of Bellmawr, Carol Ann Correll of Gloucester, Patricia Krumin of West Collingswood Hts. Great-grandfather of Jordan Correll, Tyler Correll, Kira Correll, Alyssa Tomasetto, Amber Krumin. Brother of Frederick of Sewell, NJ, Kathleen Vitosky of Myrtle Beach, SC.
Mr. Brendlinger was a veteran of WWII serving in the US Navy. He retired as a Captain for the Camden City Fire Department, and was a member of VFW Post 7410 in Bellmawr.
Relatives & Friends of the Family are kindly invited to attend His Visitation Monday evening 7 to 9PM and Tuesday morning from 10 to 11AM at the Funeral Home of INGLESBY & SONS, 2426 Cove Rd., Pennsauken, NJ 08109. Funeral Service to follow at 11AM. Interment Locustwood Memorial Park, Cherry Hill, NJ.