Robert E. Davenport
Robert E. Davenport.
Robert E. Davenport was born in Camden, New Jersey on February 11, 1936 to Margaret and Edward A. Davenport. He was named after his paternal grandfather, Robert Allen Davenport, who had brought his family to Cramer Hill during the 1910s. By the fall of 1918 the Davenport family was living at 2831 Garfield Avenue, where they remained well into the 1980s. Robert E. Davenport attended high school through the ninth grade when, like many other boys of his era, he went to work.
On September 28, 1962 Robert E. Davenport was appointed to the Camden Fire Department. He reported for duty on October 1. His abilities quickly recognized, Robert E. Davenport was promoted to captain on December 30, 1969. He was then living at 1026 Reeves Avenue in Cramer Hill where he would remain for at least one more year. His father passed away in 1973; his mother, however, would remain at the Garfield Avenue address for several more years. Robert E. Davenport and his wife Elizabeth would move out of Camden by 1977. The New Jersey Bell Telephone Directory for that year shows the Davenports on Deblynn Drive in Erial, New Jersey.
Captain Davenport left the Fire Department on pension on May 1, 1988. Sadly, he passed away on June 19, 1988.
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.
Captain Robert Davenport and Fireman William Wickward, Engine Company 2 — 1971
Captain Robert Davenport and Fireman William Wickward, Engine Company 2, 1971.
Fire Watch Magazine — Spring, 1977
“A Tip O’ the Helmet To”… all the brothers who turned out for blood donorship for Capt. Bob Davenport, Ladder Co. 3. Within twenty-four hours, following the notification throughout the department, the response was so great that the hospital blood bank had to turn away members stating that they had sufficient quotas to cover Bob’s needs. Once again, a demonstration of the true brotherhood within the fire service. Capt. Davenport is preparing to undergo open heart surgery to correct a heart valve. Our prayers are with him in hoping for a successful operation and speedy recovery.
Service Records
Camden Division of Fire Personnel Record and Sick Leave Record for Robert E. Davenport.