Introduction
George A. “Ace” Reese III was born in Camden, New Jersey on November 28, 1945.
George Reese served in the United States army during the Vietnam War. He married Evelyn “Eggie” Hansbury. They were blessed with two children, William and Sherry.
On April 15, 1982 George Reese was appointed to the Camden Fire Department, where he served with distinction for twenty-five years. He retired on full pension on May 1, 2007.
A lifelong resident of Camden, George Reese passed away on January 4, 2015. He rests at Harleigh Cemetery with his wife Evelyn, who passed in February of 2006. George Reese was survived by his children, five grandchildren, a host of nieces and nephews, and hundreds of men and women in the fire service and emergency medical service who knew and respected him.
Photo
George A. “Ace” Reese III
January 18, 1986
Firefighter Larry Reed assists Firefighter George Reese at a Second Alarm fire in the 500 Block of Kaighn Avenue
Photo by Frank Saia
Girl, 3, dies in fire; 2 brothers rescued
Camden Courier-Post —
CAMDEN — A 3-year-old girl died after she and two brothers fled into a bathroom and turned on the faucets to escape from a fire in their home yesterday.
The children, the oldest of whom was 6, were alone in the house and started the fire with a lighter in a bedroom, fire investigators said.
The girl, Catherine L. Hoffman, was pronounced dead shortly after the 3:40 p.m. fire in her home in the 1900 block of Fillmore Street.
Her brothers, Charles S. Williams, 6, and William E. Hoffman Jr., 1, were rescued and hospitalized.
Also hospitalized was the children’s mother, Rosetta D. Hoffman, 22, who was being treated for smoke inhalation and burns she sustained when she tried to the rescue [sic] her eldest and youngest children.
The mother fell unconscious on her way out of the house, but was pulled to safety by two neighbors, a city fire investigator said.
Hoffman was in guarded condition at Cooper Hospital-University Medical Center, Camden, this morning.
William Hoffman was admitted to the same hospital and was listed in stable condition. His brother, Charles, was transferred early this morning to Children’s Hospital in Philadelphia, were he was listed in critical condition.
It was uncertain where Hoffman was when the blaze broke out, according to Thomas Broccoli, a city fire investigator.
No charges were filed against Hoffman, but an investigation is under way, said George Kerns, a spokesman for Camden County Prosecutor Samuel Asbell.
The children were left alone in the house, witnesses told Broccoli. He later determined the fire was set in a second-story bedroom by the children with a lighter.
Elaine Mitchell, Hoffman’s neighbor, said she learned of the fire from a neighborhood girl who smelled smoke, and soon after Hoffman jumped a railing in front of her house screaming, “My children are upstairs, locked in the bathroom, and the house is on fire.”
Mitchell called the fire department and her husband, Lawrence, 44, said he ran next door and entered the house with a neighbor, but was turned back by intense heat and heavy smoke.
Mr. Mitchell said he wrapped a wet towel around his body and again entered the house, alone, unaware that Hoffman ran inside ahead of him. He said he caught her as she fell unconscious at the top of the second-story stairwell. Mr. Mitchell, a newspaper deliveryman for USA Today, said he dragged the woman, her 6-year-old son, and youngest child out of the house.
By that time, the fire department arrived and Firefighter George Reese entered the house. Moments later, he carried out the 3-year-old girl, Broccoli said.
The fire quickly ignited a mattress and spread to three others in the bedroom. Broccoli said he was uncertain why the children didn’t try to get out of the house instead of running into the bathroom and turning on water in the bathtub and sink.
Fire Destroys Church, Forcing Evacuations
Named: David Yates, George A. Reese, and Wayne V. Miller.
Engine Company 11
1994
Engine Company 11 — 1994
From left: Jim Alexander, Greg DePetris, Glenn Moore, George Reese, Joe Kirk, Frank Saia
No Not Duty
Firewatch Magazine — 1991
In every city, town or state
Firefighters are there to service.
To fight fires no matter what it takes
And except fates, twists and curls.Firefighters five went down in flames,
In Hackensack, N.J. one afternoon.
The tragedy is always the same
Life taken away, away to soon.That’s their Job some people say
The risk and chance they take.
But no life is worth the pay
No matter the money they make.In little time forgotten names
But to all that loved him dear.
Their life and limb was this in vain
Every firefighter loved ones fear.No not duty the loss too great
Five answered the final bell.
Now standing at heaven’s gate
In God’s hands now they dwell.— George Reese
City Of Camden Fire Department Engine 8
Photos
George A. “Ace” Reese III
George “Ace” Reese III
Camden Courier-Post —
George “Ace” Reese III
AGE: 69 Years • Camden
On January 4, 2015; Beloved husband of the late Evelyn M. “Eggie” (nee Hansbury); Devoted father of William Reese & Sherry (Joey) Nieves; Loving grandfather of William Jr., Justin, Shawn, Sierra & Joziah; Also survived by many loving nieces, nephews & friends. Prior to retirement, George worked as a Camden firefighter with Local 11 for 25 years. He was a proud Army Veteran who served during the Vietnam War. He will be remembered by his family and friends as a very hard worker. He enjoyed painting, drawing and writing poetry.
Relatives & friends are invited to the Visitation & Funeral on Friday from 9 to 11:30 AM at the Falco CARUSO & Leonard Funeral Home 6600 N. Browning RD in Pennsauken. A service will begin at 11:30 AM. Interment Harleigh Cemetery in Camden. In lieu of flowers donations can be made to the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation P.O. Box Drawer 498 Emmitsburg, MD, 21727 or www.firehero.org.
Info., condolences & online guestbook at www.CARUSOCARE.com.