Joseph Guarino
Joseph R. Guarino, Camden Fire Department
JOSEPH R. GUARINO was born on August 28, 1914 in Camden to Jennie and A. Giuseppe Guarino, who in time anglicized his name to Joseph Guarino. The family, which included older sisters Dorothy and Lena, lived at 212 Benson Street from the time of his birth into the mid 1920s. By 1927 they had moved to 25 Morse Street. This move came in great part to the elder Guarino being appointed to the Camden Police Department in January of 1922, when he replaced Officer Anthony Latorre, who was caught up in the corruption scandal surrounding Detective George Murry.
Joseph R. Guarino graduated from Camden High School in 1934. On August 29, 1940 he was appointed to the Camden Fire Department. He reported for duty on September 1, 1940. He also married Lydia Cicchitelli around this time. The marriage produced two sons, Joseph R. Guarino Jr. and Anthony Guarino.
Joseph Guarino’s career with the Camden Fire Department was interrupted when he was inducted into the United States Army on April 30, 1941 at Trenton, New Jersey. He had been promoted to the rank of Sergeant by the time the war ended in 1945. Returning to Camden, by 1947 the Guarino family made their home at 2931 Berkley Street in East Camden. His mother was still at 25 Morse Street when the 1947 Camden City Directory was compiled. When residency restrictions were removed from members of the Fire Department Joseph Guarino moved to the Leisuretowne section on Southampton Township in Burlington County, where he lived out most of the remainder of his days.
During a distinguished career that spanned 39 years, Joseph Guarino was promoted to Captain in April of 1948, Battalion Chief on November 1, 1953, and was made Acting Deputy Chief on August 1, 1963. His final promotion came on July 11, 1968 when he was elevated to the rank of District Chief.
Chief Guarino retired from the Camden Fire Department on September 1, 1979. He passed away at the Compassionate Care Hospice in Trenton, New Jersey on August 16, 2001, survived by his wife, sons, grandchildren, and his sister Dorothy.
Camden High Girl Given Six Awards
Philadelphia Evening Public Ledger —
Student Honored as 147 Receive Diplomas—Dr. Wilson Speaks
Hazel Heminway, of 2911 Cramer Street, Camden, first honor student of the Camden High School senior class, received six awards, medals and prizes at the commencement exercises yesterday in the school auditorium, Park Boulevard and Baird Avenue. Diplomas were presented to 147 graduates by Samuel Fulton, president of the Board of Education.
Awards given to Miss Heminway were:
Clara S. Burrough Memorial Award, for excellence in character and scholarship and participation in school activities; the Rosa Goldstein Prize, for highest standing in science; Camden Bnai Brith Prize, for highest standing in mathematics; Thoirs Auxiliary Award, for American history and problems of democracy; Phi Beta Kappa Association of Philadelphia Award and High School Fathers’ Association Prize, for outstanding work in extracurricular activities other than athletics.
Dr. Lucy L. W. Wilson, who retired this week as principal of South Philadelphia High School for Girls, was the commencement speaker.
Other prizes and scholarships awarded were:
Rose prizes of $15 each, to winners of public speaking contest, Margaret Melson and Patrick Brady; Camden High School Alumni Scholarships, Alfred Pikus, to University of Pennsylvania; Mary Trench, to college of own choosing. Philomathean Society Prize for English composition, and the High School Classical Club Award for Latin, Constance DiGuiseppe.
Science Award, shared between Irving Ziedman and Hazel Heminway. Class of 1916 Prize, and the Lyola C. Pedrick Prize in drawing, Alfred DeMartin. Icima Club of Camden Alumni Association Prize for best work in physics, and Philadelphia Business College Scholarship, Warren Mitchell. Woman’s Club Prize for American history, and Camden Lions’ Club Prize for good school citizenship, James Hendricks. Bnai Brith Prize for mathematics, William Berry. Mary McClelland Brown Prize for French, shared by William Berry and Hazel Heminway.
Roanoke College scholarship, valued at $125, Edward Hagy; Washington and Lee University, valued at $100, Albert Maure; College of William and Mary, valued at $100, Sheeley Lashman; College of South Jersey, $100, Paul Springer; Steelman’s Business School, $250, Isabel Shetler; Banks Business College, $250, Doris Friedenberg; Taylor Business School, $250, Patrick Brady; Philadelphia Business College, $250, Warren Mitchell; Washington and Jefferson College, $750, William Hussong; New York University by N. Y. U. Alumni Club of Philadelphia, full tuition, David Reed, president of Student Government; Taylor University, $100, Michael Sullivan, and Brown Preparatory School, $250, Emilio Iannetta.
of Camden Woman’s Club, Ruth Adams and Martin Ravitch; class of 1923 prizes for greatest ability in athletics, William McLaughlin and Florence Bryen; Camden Woman’s Club prize in practical arts, Ruth Hart; Beethoven Club award, Clover Winter; Philadelphia Tribune prize, Iola Ames; High School Fathers Association prize, Stephen Schuster and Hazel Heminway.
The graduates are:
College Course
George J. Abrams; Gilbert F. Lackman; Robert H. Anderson; Louis S. Lawyer; J. Buren Barker; Harry R. Linthicum; William F. Bartell, 3d.; Daniel B. Lysak; Herman M. Bass; Samuel H. Maklin; Dorothy Beck; William E. McLaughlin; Harry R. Burris, Jr.; Dorothy Miller; Joseph N. Colangelo; Robert J. Moyer; William C. Daisey; C. Sylvia Narodetsky; William A. Davis, Jr.; F. Bradford Naylor; Dermot A. Dollar; Michael Pelechowicz; Eleanor B. Dreyer; Emma B. Pfeiffer; William A. Drummond; A. Charles Polato; Oliver Everett, Jr.; Joseph C. Ragone; John J. Finnegan; David H. Read; Doris L. Fox; Irving Robbins; Carmella P. Galloppi; Blanche E. Rowan; Chester O. Gallup; Morris Rozner; Irwin Ginsburg; Ann E. Schafer; Sydney A. Goldberg; Angelina D. Schiavo; Robert T. Greer; Stephen J. Schuster; Joseph R. Guarino; Joseph W. Seaton; Albert C. Hammond; Bessie Shaen; Hazel Hemingway; Isabel H. Shetler; Marie Hensgen; Stella Stein; William J. Husong; Michael J. Sullivan; Florence N. Joslin; Florence Szymanklewicz; Alfred C. Kaplan; Nathan L. Troub; William E. Kelly; Helen S. Tyler; Jack W. Kinsella; William G. Warner; Benjamin Klein; F. Milton Willett; Morris Kleitman; Russell G. Willis; Jack Korman; Cover R. Winter; Harry Kurtz; Walter A. Zackon; Irving Zeidman.
Technical Course
Christian R. Arllen; George W. Lodge; Charles F. Becker; Albert F. Maure; Charles S. Budd; Lloyd P. Mick; John A. DeJulis; J. Warren Mitchell; Edgar H. Fenton; George Mulford; George Foster; Frederick W. Niessner; Volney Gross; Martin Odlen; Edward M. Hagy; James C. Paera; Baleslaw M. Halicks; Edward C. Schumann; Samuel B. Hornberger; Paul LeB. Springer; Emilio A. Ianetta, Jr.; Herbert K. Townsend; Leon Kaufman; Charles F. Whittick; John T. Lawrence; E. Edward Lee.
Normal Course
Mola L. Amos; Rose A. Kutcher; Beatrice Barish; Viola Lalli; Dorothy E. Blossom; Ethel Landolt; Doris V. Broome; Sophie Lozek; Mary I. Chance; Mary E. Martin; Constance Di Giuseppe; Margaret Mears; Rita Glassman; Margaret Melson; Eleanor Goff; Eleanor M. Simpson; L. Vivian Heard; Evelyn H. Starkey; Betty Heil; Dorothea L. Stone; R. Grace Hosier; Marie E. Thompson; M. Evelyn Yeager.
General Course
Arlene Blomquist; Edna M. Leitch; Zurelda Briscoe; Louis Lichtman; Florence C. Bryen; Harold W. Meluski; Lawrence Bunker; Harriet Ness; Marg’t E. Condren; William H. O’Neill; Mildred Corson; Chas. Panden, Jr.; Alfred E. DeMartin; James Shanklin; Margaret Di Maio; Ruth E. Ship; Thomas P. Flaherty; Sue S. Stevenson; Virginia E. Gilbert; Caroline Stosny; James R. Hendricks; Anna E. Strang; Bertha V. Jones; Viola M. Swal; John J. Kissel; F. H. Vonderslice; Terry J. Kisselman; Frank E. Wick; Irene J. LaMarra.
Mrs. Kobus to Ask More Cops, Firemen for City Next Year
Camden Courier-Post —
New Appointment Return Forces to 1938 Status; Defense Increases Need
Appointment of 22 patrolmen and 10 firemen by City Commissioner Mary W. Kobus during the past three months has brought the personnel of the public safety department to figures comparable to 1938.
That announcement was made yesterday by Commissioner Kobus, who expressed the hope the city could afford additional members of both departments in the near future “as a safety measure and because of the great national, State and local defense programs, in which we must participate.”
“Camden is rapidly taking its rightful place as one of the greatest industrial centers of the entire nation. Thousands have been added to the payrolls of our various great industrial plants. Houses are at a premium within the city, and it is natural for the public safety department to keep in step with the times,” the commissioner stated.
“We have hundreds of new traffic problems confronting us today, that never existed back in 1931, when the police department was manned by 247 regular members and 83 special policemen and investigators.
Comparable to 1938 Figures
“Today the personnel of the police department totals 194 men, with no special investigators. This is comparable to 1938, when we had a total of 192 members of the department. Since 1938, 12 policemen have died and eight others requested to be placed on pension, after long and honorable service to their city.
“No replacements were made until a civil service examination was held and a list of eligible men provided. I have appointed 22 policemen from that list and 10 men as members of the city fire department, which had nine vacancies due to deaths and retirement.
“I will ask that sufficient money be placed in my budget for next year to appoint a few additional policemen, due to the defense measures which have been set up, and in which the public safety department is expected to participate.”
All of the new police and fire appointees must serve for one year at a salary of $1500. The second year they receive $1560, with their salaries going to $1680 for the third year and $1800 for the fourth year.
Normally they would have received $2040 for the fifth year, when they become full-fledged members of the department, but a referendum approved by the voters at the last general election sets the salary of police and firemen at $2400 annually after 1943.
As it will be after that year the present appointees will reach the end of the five-year period during which they receive annual increments in their pay, it was indicated they would jump to $2400 after their fourth year in the two departments.
Appointments Listed
The new policemen appointed by Commissioner Kobus were:
Joseph Caputi, 332 Mt. Vernon street; Joseph M. Carroll, 427 Lansdowne avenue; Roland Comerford, 2931 Cramer street; Vincent Conley, 423 Beideman avenue; James Eskridge, 716 North Seventh street; Joseph Hooven, 501 Beideman avenue; Julius Kaunacki, 1183 Sheridan street; William E. Kelly, 55 State street; William F. Large, 729 Mickle street; William H. Neale, 773 Line street; Francis J. Nelson, 720 Penn street; John E. Opfer, 323 North Second street; Cecil H. Picou, 1127 Cooper street; Earl Quinton, 687 Jefferson avenue; Edw. W. Tatem, 565 Mt. Vernon street; Harry Tracy, 2003 Federal street; Harold I. Vecander, 1039 North Twenty-sixth street; John H. Watkins, 2902 Constitution road; Edward Watson, 1048 Haddon avenue; Donald R. Watson, 841 Lois avenue; George T. Weber, 1231 North Thirtieth street; Stanley Zuckowicz, 1157 Thurman street.
The new appointees to the fire department are:
Philip H. Farrow, 529 Newton avenue; Anthony W. Bretschneider, 1621 Louis street; John Gryckiewicz, 810 North Front street; Thomas Winstanley, 329 Bailey street; William Palese, 900 South Fourth street; Anthony Dzinski, 1230 Atlantic avenue; Joseph R. Guarino, 25 Morse street; Martin B. Nelson, 561 Spruce street; William Cleary, 614 Federal street; Otto Kaiser, 904 North Twenty-sixth street.
Engine Company 3 and the 3rd Battalion, 1956
Engine Company 3 and the 3rd Battalion in quarters, Broadway & Ferry Avenue, South Camden. 1956.
Left to right, standing: Chief Joseph Guarino, Fireman John Chudzinski, Captain Edward Tyszko, Fireman Ernest Tartaglia, Fireman Santo DiMaggio; Kneeling: Fireman Adelbert Kirk, Fireman Angelo Borghero.
Camden Boy Writes to Ike, Gets Photo
Camden Courier-Post —
A nine-year-old Camden boy recently wrote to President Eisenhower to extend holiday greetings and request a photograph. He was not disappointed.
Anthony Guarino, of 2931 Berkley st., son of District Fire Chief Joseph Guarino, received an autographed photograph of President Eisenhower. The boy requested a picture of Mr. Eisenhower.
Thrilled with his prize possession, Anthony said:
“Any President has a big job to keep the country in good order, but even Washington didn’t have to worry about Sputniks. Also, the fact Mr. Eisenhower was our general in the war makes him of particular interest.
“You know, Russia will never start a war with this country because they are too busy with the moon. I think we should do less talking until we get a Sputnik off the ground.
“There is something that bothers me a lot. I visited the Statue of Liberty and bought a small replica of the figure. Then I found it was made in Japan. Was I surprised!”
Asked if he would like to be President some day, he replied, “Yes. I think people grow better here than in other countries because they are not forced to do things.”
Blaze Destroys Wooden Garage
Camden Courier-Post —
Fire Friday night destroyed a one-story wooden garage at Center and Master sts., once known as Mike Brown’s Stables for its late owner, a Republican leader of the 8th Ward.
Engine Companies 1, 3, 8 and 10 and No. 2 Truck under Third District Chief Joseph Guarino extinguished the fire. Cause and extent of damage were undetermined.
Fire at Wilson Elementary School
Camden Courier-Post —
—Courier-Post Photo by Gary L. Shivers
CAMDEN FIREMEN survey contents of a classroom closet at Wilson Elementary School, 9th and Florence sts., where fire broke out today. The fire started in the closet of a room where a special class was being conducted for pupils some of whom are blind. Shown (left to right) are Leon Puszczykowski and Ernest Tartaglia. Standing in rear is Chief Joseph Guarino of District Three.
Photos — 1964
Named: From Left: Joseph Guarino, Edward V. Michalak, Robert Dukes, and Ervin Brennan.
Edward Michalak Appointment as Chief, 1965
1965— On the occasion of Edward Michalak’s appointment to Chief of Department (seated from left) retiring Chief of Department Edward MacDowell, Chief Edward Michalak, Director Keith Kauffman; (standing from left) District Chiefs Frank Deal, Joseph Guarino, Robert Dukes, Anthony Saponare, Theodore Primas, Daniel Jiannetto, Fireman Erwin Brennan, Major William Gwynne of the Volunteers of America Fire Canteen.
Retired Fire Chief To Be Feted at Camden
Camden Courier-Post — 1965
Retired Camden Fire Chief Edward R. McDowell [sic] will be honored at a testimonial dinner and dance at 6 P. M. Wednesday at the Walt Whitman Hotel.
Some 300 municipal and fire officials from New Jersey and Philadelphia are expected to attend the dinner, sponsored by the Camden Fire Officers Association, according to Deputy Fire Chief Joseph Guarino, dinner chairman.
MacDowell retired last Jan. 1 after heading the fire department for five years.
300 Honor Fire Chief MacDowell
Camden Courier-Post — 1965
More than 300 persons honored Camden’s retired Fire Chief Edward R. MacDowell last night at a testimonial dinner and dance in the Walt Whitman Hotel.
The dinner was given by the Camden Fire Officers Assn. in honor of MacDowell’s 38 years of service in the Camden Fire Department. MacDowell, who retired last year, joined the department in 1926.
Rep. Cahill, R-N.J., praised MacDowell for his many years of service, saying “he was a dedicated citizen to the community.”
Mayor Cites Service
Mayor Pierce, also praising him, said “because of MacDowell’s service, the Camden Fire Department does not have to take any back steps.”
Also in attendance were the entire city council members and board of freeholders.
MacDowell was presented with gifts from the Camden Fire Officers Assn., Coca-Cola Co., RCA, Philadelphia Fire Assn., Philadelphia Fire Department, The Delaware Valley Fire Buffs, Audubon Fire Co. No. 1 and the maintenance workers of the Camden Fire Department.
Camden Fire Chief Joseph R. Guarino was program chairman and master-of-ceremonies. Rev. William A. Gwynn, Lieut. Col., Volunteers of America, gave the invocation.
Service Record
Joseph Guarino — Camden Fire Department service record
Obituary
Camden Courier-Post —
GUARINO, JOSEPH R.
Age 87 of Southampton, died Thursday at Compassionate Care Hospice in St. Francis Medical Center, Trenton. Born in Camden, Mr. Guarino resided there until moving to the Leisuretown section of Southampton Twp 29 yrs ago. Mr. Guarino retired in 1979 as Deputy Fire Chief of Camden after 40 years of service. He served in the Army during WWII. He was a member of Church of the Holy Eucharist and the Veteran’s Organization of Leisuretown. Mr. Guarino was a loving and devoted husband and father. Surviving is his wife of 60 years, Lydia Rose (nee Cicchitelli) Guarino, sons Joseph R. Jr. of Honolulu, HA and Anthony R. and his wife Paula J. of Woodbridge; a sister, Dorothy Ferme of Long Island, NY; two granddaughters, Debra Nichols of TN and Jeannine Guarino of CA; one grandson, Steven Nichols of TN; sister and brother-in-law, Antoinette and Theodore Gloway of Pennsauken and several nieces and nephews. Interment services will be on Wednesday, August 22, 2001 at 11 am at Brig. Gen. Wm. C. Doyle Vet. Mem. Cemetery Chapel, Arneytown. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in Mr. Guarino’s memory to Compassionate Care Hospice, 58 Mill Street, Mt. Holly, NJ 08060 or the Multiple Sclerosis Foundation, 1 Reed Street, Philadelphia, PA 19147. Arrangements are under the direction of MATHIS FUNERAL HOME, 58 North Main Street, Medford, NJ.
Obituary
Camden Courier-Post —
GUARINO, LYDIA ROSE
Age 88, of the LeisureTowne section of Southampton, passed away Tuesday, April 4, 2006, at Compassionate Care Hospice, Trenton, NJ.
Born in Camden, NJ. Lydia resided in Pennsauken for several years before moving to LeisureTowne 33 years ago. Lydia was a parishioner at the Church of the Holy Eucharist. She was an active resident in LeisureTowne and also enjoyed reading in her spare time.
Wife of the late Joseph Guarino, she is survived by two sons and one daughter-in law, Joseph Guarino of Las Vegas and Anthony and Paula Guarino of Woodbridge, one sister and brother-in law, Antoinette and Ted Gloway of Pennsauken, two granddaughters and their spouses, Debra and Eric Pinson and Jeannine and Erik Grossal, two great grandchildren, several nieces, nephews and cousins.
Cremation will be held privately and at the convenience of the family. Arrangements are under the direction of the MATHIS FUNERAL HOME, Medford.
Fire Watch: In This Issue
Fire Watch Magazine — Spring 1977
FIRE WATCH
VOL. 1 NO. 1
SPRING 1977
IN THIS ISSUE
MESSAGE FROM LOCAL #788 2
WHAT'S NEW 4
VIEW FROM THE TOP 5
SAFETY EVERYONE'S CONCERN 6
A CITY CHANGING IT'S [sic] IMAGE 8
DO YOU REMEMBER 10
HOT FLASHES 11
FIREHOUSE CHATTER 12
IN RECOGNITION 13
RUNS AND WORKERS-1976 13
DOWN MEMORY LANE 14
OUR SUPPORT SERVICES 16
QUIZ BIZ 18
FROM THE RULE BOOK 19
OUR PATRONS 19
PUBLISHED QUARTERLY BY AND FOR CAMDEN FIREFIGHTERS
The Cover Photo of our inaugural issue displays the scene that greeted first arriving units on the morning of 6 June, 1976 at Mt. Ephraim Avenue and Fairview Street, the Harris Terminal Complex. The fire involved a four story brick and corrugated steel warehouse (100 x 1000) containing miscellaneous industrial materials. Structure was fully involved upon arrival of Department Forces. As is evident in photo, the firebuilding was completely obscured from view by extremely heavy smoke conditions that were visible as far as thirty miles away. Elevated water tank in background, which is adjacent to firebuilding, is 100 feet tall. A massive effort by over 400 hundred [sic] manning some fifty pieces of equipment, was required to control the blaze. The Camden Fire Department was assisted by the mutual-aid response of Fire Units from Camden County. A 10th Alarm for Box #4412 was transmitted for this fire. Photo by M. Hall.
(LIABILITY STATEMENT)
1) The contents of FIREWATCH magazine are not intended to reflect official Fire Department policy, and are published with the express purpose of broadening the member's understanding and interest in the Fire Fighting Profession, and the Labor Movement. Opinions and ascertations [sic] set forth by authors of articles in FIREWATCH magazine do not reflect the views of the Fire Department of the City of Camden, N.J. or Local #788, I.A.F.F.
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OFFICIAL DIRECTORY CAMDEN FIRE DEPARTMENT
Edward V. Michalak, Chief of Department
Dep. Chf. Joseph R. Guarino, Personnel & Administration
Dep. Chf. Daniel F. Jiannetto, Department Properties
Dep. Chf. Anthony C. Saponare, Support Services
Dep. Chf. Theodore L. Primas, Staff Services
Batt. Chf. Harold H. Pike, Chief Fire Marshal
Capt. Vincent G. Orme, Asst. Fire Marshal & Community Relations
Batt. Chf. Matthew J. Davies, Fire Training Academy
Capt. Ronald Guernon, Training Officer
Chief Joseph F. Wolfinger, Motor Maintenance Unit
OFFICIAL DIRECTORY CAMDEN FIREFIGHTER'S UNION, LOCAL #788, I.A.F.F.
Robert J. Williams, President E.11
William H. Colucci, 1st Vice President L.1
Robert K. Troutman, 2nd Vice President E.6
Richard J. Tate, 3rd Vice President E.8
Robert W. Frett, Secretary B.1-Aide
George F. Kifferly III, Treasurer E.11
Edward DeHart, State Delegate E.11
William S. DiPompo, State Delegate E.8
William L. Kamman, State Delegate E.3
PUBLICATION STAFF, FIREWATCH MAGAZINE
Editor Peter Carbone E.1
Asst. Editor Joseph Marini L.1
Circulation Martin Murray L.2
Historian Dennis Penn E.7
Art Robert Zieniuk E.3
Graphics B. James Nash E.8
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