Kenneth M. Clark
Kenneth M. Clark
KENNETH MARK CLARK was born in Camden, New Jersey on November 30, 1932 to McKinley and Kathryn Clark. The family, which included older siblings Lillian, Lawrence, and Edna was living at 1051 North Collings Road in Fairview in the late 1920s and early 1930s but by 1947 had moved to East Camden, taking up residence at 221 Eutaw Avenue. Another daughter, Florence, also was born to the Clarks during the 1930s. McKinley Clark worked as a linesman for the Pennsylvania Railroad.
Ken Clark left school after the 10th grade and went into the United States Army during the Korean War. He returned to Camden following his discharge.
The Clarks were still on Eutaw Avenue in the fall of 1956. Ken Clark, however, was living at 344 Dudley Street, in the Westfield Acres housing project. He was appointed to the Camden Fire Department on December 30, 1955. By October of 1959 Ken Clark had moved to 864 Beideman Avenue in Cramer Hill. He moved to 111 North 26th Street during the 1960s.
Ken Clark was promoted to Captain on July 12, 1968. On July 1, 1981 Ken Clark retired from the Camden Fire Department. He moved to St. Petersburg, Florida the following year.
Ken Clark passed away on June 26, 2005 at his St. Petersburg home, survived by his wife, three children, sister Florence Anderson of Westmont, New Jersey and a host of grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
13 Given Oath At City Hall as New Firemen
Camden Courier-Post —
Thirteen new firemen were sworn in today by Safety Director E. George Aaron in ceremonies at City Hall.
Beginning Sunday they will start a 90-day probationary period, during which they will receive instruction at the fire training school, 9th and Morgan sts.
All are war veterans and all are replacements in vacancies caused by deaths or retirements on pension. Their initial salary is $3800 a year, which may increase to a maximum of $4800 after two years.
Director Aaron announced that their appointment brings the fire department to its full strength of 250, except for four captaincies.
Those sworn in are Edward T. Irwin, 36, of 910 N. 24th st.; William Johns Hopkins, 32, of 830 Grant st.; Robert Richards Rowan Jr., 23, of 58 Erie st.; Alchester Warren, 34, of 776 Walnut st.; John Lynn Sterner, 27, of 2738 Lincoln ave.; Leon Carl Puszcykowski, 25, 3106 S. Congress rd.; Joseph Anthony Verderosa, 27, of 1193 Thurman st.; William J. O’Connor, 24, Apartment 281, 342 Dudley st.; Kenneth Clark, 23, of Apartment 295, 346 Dudley st.; Carl Richard Szalkowski, 33, of 1071 Thurman st.; Alfred Nigro, 29, of 912 S. 5th st.; Francis Paul Stibi, 26, of 329 Dailey st., and James Hovey Troutman, 28, of 2944 High st.
“Sparky” and “Smokey” — May 1964
Named: “SPARKY” and “SMOKEY” giving candy to school children • Left on Ladder is Sparky, Chief George Baxter • Below on Ground is Smokey, and Inspector Kenneth Clark.
Named: “SPARKY” and “SMOKEY” at the H.C. Sharp Elementary School • Sparky, Chief George Baxter • Smokey, and Inspector Kenneth Clark.
Named: “SPARKY” and “SMOKEY” at the H.C. Sharp Elementary School • Sparky, Chief George Baxter • Smokey, and Inspector Kenneth Clark.
City Firemen Seek 42-Hr. Work Week
Camden Courier-Post —
By JOSEPH R. MC CARTHY
Courier-Post Staff
Camden Fire Department members of the International Association of Firefighters, Local 788, are circulating petitions seeking a 42-hour work week.
Kenneth Clark, president of the local, said the firemen now work 56 hours and although they have attempted many times to obtain a 42-hour week, they decided to resort to the voters.
Clark said the firemen already have the required 4,882 signatures to place the question on the ballot as a referendum. He said the group expects to produce between 7,500 and 8,000 signatures.
The union has 131 members, or about half of the membership of the department, Clark said. Clark said all other departments of the city government work 42-hour weeks, or less. He cited the police department as having been on 42 hours since 1950.
“All major cities in the state, with the exception of one small city,” Clark said, “have their paid firemen working 42 hours a week.”
Fire Chief Edward Michalak said granting of the reduced hours would mean the addition of 74 new men to sufficiently man the department.
Leon Puszczykowski, president of the Firemen’s Benevolent Association, answered “no comment,” when asked about the plan.
Clark said a general meeting of all city firemen has been called for 8 o’clock in the Police and Fire Club, 1175 Whitman Avenue.
Joseph J. McComb, president of the Central Labor Union, will address the firemen, Clark reported.
Police, Fire Tests Take Heavy Toll
Camden Courier-Post —
Courier-Post Bureau
TRENTON — The high rate of failures on police and fire examinations was repeated yesterday in the Civil Service Department’s announcement of the results of tests for fire captain and patrolman in Camden City.
In the captain’s test, 23 passed, 64 failed and two did not show up for the test. In the test for patrolman, 10 passed, 32 failed and 14 failed to show. In the non-residents’ test for Camden patrolman, six passed, eight failed and five did not appear.
In the fire captain’s test, Kenneth M. Clark of 111 North 26th St., Camden, a veteran, qualified with a score of 92.6, highest for the seven veterans who qualified. Joseph R. Gfrorer of 3040 N. Constitution Road, Camden, was highest of applicants with a score of 96.5.
In the residents’ patrolman test, Robert D. Craig of 817 Vine Street was high with 78. In the non resident’s test, Edwin B. Hoffman of 514 Walnut Street, Audubon, a veteran qualified with 72.2 and Flem J. Hopkins Jr. of 113 Estates Ave., Pine Hill, was high with 78.
Others who passed the fire captain’s test were:
George D. Getty of 1111 N. 34 St., 95.4; John DiMaggio of 319 Beckett St., 94; Joseph J. Anderson of 2406 Denfield St., 92.96; Phillip A. Maycott of 2836 Lincoln Ave., 90.5; James McMaster of 402 N. 37th St., 90.2; William D. Hillman of 3071 Constitution Rd., 89.4; Joseph Arensberg of 1041 N. 32nd St., 88.3; Robert E. Briggs of 2861 Congress Road, veteran, 86.3; John S. Brzozowski of 371 N. 34th St., 86.2; Edmund F. Gorczynski of 272 N. 33rd St., veteran, 85.4; Anthony F. Orme of 3317 River Ave., veteran, 82.4; William J. Young of 1126 N. 33rd St., 80.5; William D. Ayers of 2846 Pierce Ave., veteran, 79.1; Joseph Dowhy Sr., of 866 Beideman Ave., veteran, 78.9; James O. Jones of 3214 Mitchell St., 78.3; Joseph Chelhowski of 1324 Sheridan St., veteran, 75.8; James T. Robinson of 504 Trenton Ave., 75.5; Anthony D. Moffa of 23 Leonard Ave., 73.3; Robert E. Davenport of 1026 Reeves Ave., 73; John F. Gaffney Jr., of 78 S. Dudley St., 72.8, and Albert E. Collum Jr., of 2409 Howell St., 72.6.
Patrolman (residents) who passed:
Joseph A. Fox of 2117 Mount Ephraim Ave., 77.1; Charles W. Cahilly 2d of 2015 Westminster Ave., 75.; Edward B. Bush of 3210 Mitchell St., 78.9; John F. Oppmann of 550 N. 30th St., 77.7; Gary E. Miller of 486-A Rand St., 77.4; Donald J. Tymusczuk of 2737 Concord Ave., 75.1; Joseph A. Broccoli of 1467 Pershing St., 74.2; Richard W. Merta of 1641 Pulaski St., 72.9, and Robert G. Gibson of 572 Clinton St., 72.6.
Patrolman (nonresidents) who passed:
Flem J. Hopkins Jr., 78; Elwood L. Ridge, 75.4; Joseph E. Benton, 74.7; David Vautier Jr., 74.1, and Frank R. Pedano, 73.8.
Camden Fire Department Personnel Record
Kenneth Mark Clark — Camden Fire Department Personnel Record
Kenneth M. Clark
Camden Courier-Post —
CLARK, KENNETH M. ‘KEN’
Age 72, of St. Petersburg, FL died June 26, 2005 at home. He moved to St. Petersburg in 1982 from his native Camden, NJ, where he retired after 25 years as a firefighter for the Camden City Fire Department. He was an Army veteran of the Korean War. He is survived by his wife of 21 years: Joyce B; a son, William Clark, Inverness, FL; 2 daughters: Deborah Schmitt, Brandon, FL; and Joanne Peters, Millville, NJ; a sister: Florence Anderson, Westmont, NJ; and 7 grandchildren; and several great-grandchildren.
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