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 — 1934
Student Honored as 147 Receive Diplomas — Dr. Wilson Speaks
Hazel Heminway, of 2811 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 Wilson, president of the Board of Education.
Awards given to Miss Heminway were:
Clara S. Burrough Memorial Award, for greatest ability in English; Margaret Ross Goldstein Prize, for highest standing in mathematics; Thora Erickson Memorial Award, for leadership qualities; Kanza Association of Philadelphia Award, for best school citizenship; Gerber Scholarship; High School Fathers Association Prize, for outstanding work in extra-curricular activities other than athletics.
Dr. Lucy L. W. Wilson, who recently was principal of the Philadelphia High School for Girls, was the commencement speaker.
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.”
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; and 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 land. 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 —
BLAZE DESTROYS WOODEN GARAGE
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.
Wilson Elementary School Fire
Camden Courier-Post —
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.
Photos — 1965
Named: 1965, Edward R. MacDowell, Walt Whitman Hotel, William T. Cahill, Alfred R. Pierce, Joseph Guarino, and Rev. William A. Gwynne.
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.