Joseph J. Lesniewski
Joseph J. “Big Joe” Lesniewski
JOSEPH J. “BG JOE” LESNIEWSKI was born in Camden on May 13, 1919 to Stella and Andrew Lesniewski. The Lesniewskis were living at 1156 Jackson Street when the 1918–1919 City Directory was compiled. By 1924 they had moved to Pennsylvania. Joseph Lesniewski was working as a machinist and living in Pennsylvania when he enlisted in the United States Army Air Corps in Philadelphia on December 12, 1941.
Joseph Lesniewski came to Camden after World War II, where he married Wanda Chomiczewksi, who lived and had grown up at 1440 Rose Street. He was appointed to the Camden Fire Department on December 30, 1950 and reported for duty on January 1, 1951 with Engine Company 7 at 1115 Kaighn Avenue. He stayed at Engine Company 7 until April of 1966 except for a three month long tour with Engine Company 8. Between April of 1966 and August of 1968 Joseph J. Lesniewski was transferred four times, to Ladder Company 1, Engine Company 2, Engine Company 11, and finally to Engine Company 10, from where he retired on January 1, 1981.
The 1956 New Jersey Bell Telephone directory shows Joseph J. Lesniewski living at 1100 Orchard Street in Camden. By 1959 the family had moved to 930 Atlantic Avenue, around the corner from St. Joseph’s Roman Catholic Church. The Lesniewski family would reside there into the 1970s. Joseph J. Lesniewski was still serving as a Fire Fighter in 1977, then living at 166 Linden Avenue in Oaklyn NJ. Before retirement he had seen his son, Joseph A. Lesniewski, join the department on April 2, 1974. The younger Lesniewski had risen to the rank of Captain by 1997, then serving at Engine Company 11 on North 27th Street in Cramer Hill.
Last a resident of East Beechwood Avenue in Oaklyn NJ, Joseph J. Lesniewski passed away on May 9, 2008, survived by his wife Wanda, son Joseph A. Lesniewski and daughter Elaine Lesniewski Griffin.
Photos
Fire Canteen Unit and members of Engine Company 7 after a general alarm fire on December 14, 1959. From left: Captain Anthony Saponare, Volunteers of America Colonel William Gwynne, Fire Fighters Carl Szalkowski, Joseph “Slick” Verderosa, and Joseph “Big Joe” Lesniewski.
NAME: Joseph J. Lesniewski — ENG. CO. #17 — GROUP NO. 7 TITLE: Fireman BADGE NO.: 50 — Blood Type: O Positive BORN AT: Camden, New Jersey — DATE: May 13th, 1917 APPOINTED: December 30th, 1950 — REPORTED FOR DUTY: January 1st, 1951
CHECK POSITIONS THIS MEMBER IS CAPABLE OF FILLING: Acting Captain ✓ / Driver ✓ / Pump Operator ✓ / Tillerman ✓
ASSIGNMENTS: Assigned to #7 Engine Co. — January 1st, 1951 — TRANS. TO 10Co. Aug. 14, 1968 Transferred to #8 Eng. Co. — May 8, 1962 Transferred to #7 Eng. Co. — Aug. 1, 1962 Transferred to #1 Ladder — April 26, 1966 Transferred to 2Co. — Mar. 4, 1967 Transferred to #11 Eng. Co. #2 Pl. — Sept. 7, 1967
Note: this card gives a birth date of May 13, 1917, which conflicts with the May 13, 1919 birth date given above (sourced from the city directory and WWII enlistment record). Not yet resolved which is correct.
Gunmen Robbed Them of $1020 and Car
Camden Courier-Post —
The three persons pictured were robbed by gunmen yesterday. Two bandits pointed pistols at Mrs. Mary Derengowski, 56 (left), and took approximately $1000 from the till of a saloon she operates with her daughter at Lansdowne avenue and Louis street. When William Szymborski, 40 (center), of 1165 Kenwood avenue, and Joseph J. Lesniewski, 28, of 1179 Lansdowne avenue, gave chase in Szymborski’s automobile and caught up with them, the thugs turned their guns on the pursuers, forced them to drive them to Eighth and Mt. Vernon streets, and then took the car and Lesniewski’s wrist watch and $20. The car was abandoned at Second and Clinton streets.
In Cafe Holdup
Camden Courier-Post —
Police Search All Night for Thugs Who Took $1000
Camden police today arrested three men in connection with an armed holdup yesterday of a Camden saloon.
Police worked through the night on the case. They broke off the investigation for a short rest at 6 o’clock this morning, however, and were to continue it later.
The saloon, Briggs Cafe at Lansdowne avenue and Louis street, was robbed of about $1000 at 3.05 p.m. yesterday by two neatly dressed, armed bandits.
Shortly afterward the bandits took a watch, $20 in cash and the automobile of two men who pursued them.
Booked on “suspicion” at 5.30 o’clock this morning at Camden police headquarters was Angelino J. Martelli, 22, a truck driver, whose home at 1173 Lansdowne avenue, is near the Briggs Cafe. Police explained he is being held for further questioning. At 5.45 a.m. two other men were booked as material witnesses in the case. They are Charles Beyer, 23, an electrical worker, 727 South Eighth street, and Dominic Maione, 24, a salesman, 405 South Fifth street.
Detective Capt. Koerner took charge of the investigation late yesterday, and, with Detective Sgt. Trout and Detective Cahill, Sgt. Trout and Detectives Cahill and Schultz, worked through the night.
The saloon owner, Mrs. Mary Derengowski, 52, and her daughter, Mrs. Stella Briggs, 34, reported the bandits held them at bay with pistols while they rifled a cash drawer and cash register. Mrs. Briggs was upstairs painting when the robbers entered the saloon. Mrs. Derengowski was in a back room when she heard the door bell. As she approached the bar to serve two men standing there, she noticed they had drawn pistols. “Keep quiet,” one told her, “and you won’t get hurt.” She told police, however, she screamed as one of the gunmen forced her into the back room. Attracted by the screams, Mrs. Briggs ran downstairs and was confronted by a gunman who ordered her in the back room with her mother.
At that point, the women said, the bandit holding them at bay became nervous. He ran over to his partner in the barroom and told him to hurry and take the money. Mrs. Derengowski slipped through a side door into Louis street and screamed for help.
The bandits fled down Lansdowne avenue toward Rose street with the women chasing them. Joseph J. Lesniewski, 28, of 1179 Lansdowne avenue, took up the chase and was gaining on the thugs when he noticed an automobile driven by William Szmborski, 40, of 1165 Kenwood avenue, moving in the same direction. Lesniewski leaped on the running board, told Szmborski of the holdup and persuaded him to follow the fugitives down Rose street to a point near Mechanic street, where the car drew abreast of the bandits.
Szmborski stopped the car and Lesniewski leaped from the running board just as the bandits turned their guns upon him and ordered him back to the machine. They forced Lesniewski into the car and climbed in behind him. The bandits forced Lesniewski to surrender $20 in cash and his wrist watch, then ordered the driver to “get going.”
Szmborski drove to Louis street near Mt. Vernon, where the bandits ordered their pursuers from the car and drove it away. Radio car Patrolmen James Caputi and William Prucella were notified and took up the hunt. The car was found abandoned at Second and Clinton streets.
A short time after the holdup, Police Sgt. John V. Wilkie recovered an abandoned machine which he said apparently was to be used as a “get-away” car. The auto, a green sedan with the key in the ignition lock, was found in the 1200 block of Lansdowne avenue. Neighbors told Wilkie they saw three men drive up in the car shortly before the hold-up. Two, who Wilkie said fitted descriptions of the robbers, left the car and walked toward the saloon. The third remained at the wheel.
Wilkie said when the bandits fled from the bar they apparently became confused and ran west on Lansdowne avenue, instead of east toward the car. The third man abandoned the car and fled on foot. Mrs. Derengowski told police the cash drawer contained about $1000 to cash checks.
One bandit wore a panama hat pulled low over his forehead and a black jacket. The women said the second thug had a mustache and wore an Army jacket and pants.
The automobile abandoned near the scene was registered in the name of Joseph A. Gimello, 20, of 325 Washington street. Wilkie declared Gimello’s parents said he had not returned home and admitted he owned the machine. They said the youth enlisted in the navy when he was 17, served three years and was discharged recently. However, according to Wilkie, the parents stated his entire attitude had changed and they feared he was suffering from a mental condition. An alarm has been broadcast to hold Gimello for questioning in connection with the holdup.
Boy, Girl Saved in City Fire
Camden Courier-Post —
Two children were revived by artificial resuscitation last night after being rescued from flames which damaged a bedroom of their home. The boy and girl, two-year-old Kenneth and eight-month-old Tracy, are the children of Mr. and Mrs. Kenneth Bagby of 2108 Van Buren Street, Camden. They were rescued after fire broke out in a second floor bedroom of the home at 11:19 PM. They were asleep in the room at the time.
The girl was rescued by James Robinson, acting captain of Engine Company Three. Robinson went through the building until he reached the bedroom. According to Battalion Chief Thomas McCabe, Robinson fought his way through the flames and heat in the room to reach the child. The girl was not breathing when rescued, McCabe said, but Robinson performed the artificial resuscitation.
The boy was rescued by Captain Chester Gedrich of Engine Company 10, who climbed a ladder to reach the bedroom. The youth was handed down the ladder and revived by fireman Joseph Lesniewski of Engine Company 10.
The children were taken to West Jersey Hospital Northern Division, Camden, where they were examined and released. Two other Bagby girls, five-year-old Dawn and six-year-old Kim, were next door, at 2106 Van Buren Street, with their mother when the fire broke out. Chief McCabe said he did not know the whereabouts of the father at the time of the fire.
Eight Cited For Service Above Duty
Camden Courier-Post —
Two Camden Fire Department Engine Companies were awarded unit citations and eight firemen attached to the companies were each given merit citations yesterday for service above and beyond the call of duty. Camden Fire Chief Edward V. Michalak awarded the citations to representatives of Engine Companies 3 and 10 in ceremonies held in the department’s headquarters at Third and Arch Streets.
Chief Michalak said the eight firemen under adverse conditions and without regard to personal safety, boldly rescued two children from a burning second story bedroom last August 20. According to Michalak, captain Chester Gedrich, 47, entered the home located at 2108 Van Buren Street, by ladder and rescued 8 month old Tracy Bagby, passing her to Joseph J. Lesniewski, 40, who took her to the street and gave her artificial respiration. Meanwhile, Michalak said, acting Captain James Robinson, 31, entered the flaming building, went up the stairway and rescued Tracy’s 7-year-old brother Kenneth. Assisting in the rescue were firemen Clair H. Graham, 58, Harold Johnson Jr., Ronald Gorski, 30, George Kurtyan, 24, and Robert W. Frett also 24.
Obituary: Joseph J. Lesniewski
Camden Courier-Post —
LESNIEWSKI JOSEPH J. On May 8, 2008, of Oaklyn, NJ, age 88. He is the beloved husband of Wanda (nee Chomiczewski) and loving father of Joseph A. Lesniewski (Terriann) of Williamstown and Elaine Griffin (David) of Cherry Hill. His dear grandchildren Laura and Emma Griffin and brother-in-law Charles Chomiczewski of Collingswood also survive him. Mr. Lesniewski was an Army Veteran of WWII and a retired Camden City Firefighter. Relatives and friends are invited to meet Tuesday morning from 9:30 to 10:30 AM at the CRERAN FUNERAL HOME, 400 WHITE HORSE PIKE, OAKLYN, NJ. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated 11:00 AM at St. Aloysius Church, 37 W. Haddon Ave. in Oaklyn. Interment will follow in New St. Mary’s Cemetery, Bellmawr. There is no evening viewing.