Robert P. Olesiewicz
Robert P. Olesiewicz
Robert P. Olesiewicz — promoted to Captain, February 1, 1966
ROBERT PAUL OLESIEWICZ served the City of Camden as a firefighter for over 39 years, reporting for duty on January 1, 1951 and retiring as a Captain on March 1, 1980. Born in Camden on August 10, 1919 to Zygmunt Olesiewicz and his wife, the former Sophie Peplowski, Robert P. Olesiewicz grew up in Camden’s then predominantly Polish Whitman Park neighborhood. His father had come to America from Poland in 1913. The family was living with Zygmunt Olesiewicz’s brother Joseph at 1008 Mechanic Street when the census was taken in January of 1920. The 1924 and 1929 Camden City Directories shows the family at 1418 South 10th Street, a short walk from St. Joseph’s Catholic Church. His parents would still be in this home as late as October of 1970.
Robert Olesiewicz had married Anna Marie Whittaker and was working as an electrician when he was inducted into the United States Army on February 26, 1942. Returning to Camden after completing his service, the 1947 Camden City Directory shows him living with his wife Anna at 321 Mount Vernon Street. He was appointed to the Camden Fire Department on December 20, 1950 and, as stated above, reported for duty on January 1, 1951. Robert Olesiewicz was promoted to Captain on February 1, 1966.
By 1970 he and his family had moved to 1194 Morton Street. Sadly, Robert P. Olesiewicz’s wife Anna passed away on June 5, 1973. Tragedy struck again on August 27, 1982 when daughter Anna Marie Olesiewicz was murdered by Richard Biegenwald, who was tried and sentenced to death for the crime. He was permitted to die in prison by the New Jersey State Supreme Court.
Robert P. Olesiewicz retired from the Camden Fire Department on March 1, 1980. He passed away on March 18, 1983.
‘Y’ Varsity Conquers Coaches
Camden Courier-Post —
Mentors Bow by 55–51; Catholic High Beats Limited Seniors, 35 to 27
The Camden Y.M.C.A. varsity quintet took the measure of the South Jersey Coaches by 55 to 51 last night in a free-scoring tussle at the “Y” court.
Fields and fouls were plentiful during the tussle with the Y.M.C.A. outfit racking up a total of 20 baskets from scrimmage and 15 of 23 foul attempts. Bill Ackerman and Al Scott led the attack for the winners with 11 counters apiece, while Art Blaker, Camden High mentor, was the big gun on the offense for the Coaches with five fields and seven fouls for 17 counters.
The preliminary tussle brought together the Camden Catholic High quintet and the Y.M.C.A. Limited Seniors with the scholastic outfit gaining the decision by 35 to 27. Bob Olesiewicz, star center, led the attack for Catholic with seven fields and two fouls for 16 counters, while Eddie Biehler starred for the Limited Seniors with four and one for nine points. Catholic led all the way and was out in front by 16 to 10 at the intermission.
Named: Woodrow Wilson High School, Camden Catholic High School, Camden High School, Bob Olesiewicz, Ray Dixon, Dave Lewin, Ray Patton, Bob Boyd, Fred Ackerman, and Arthur Blaker.
Catholic High Has Plenty At Stake in Series Finale
Camden Courier-Post —
Must Beat Camden to Tie for City Title; Olesiewicz Can Pass Dixon in Scoring
Woodrow Wilson Star Leads With 40 Points
When Camden Catholic High’s quintet faces Camden High’s dribblers in the final game of the city basketball series Tuesday night at the Convention Hall court there will be plenty at stake.
The most important matter resting upon Tuesday’s combat, which should attract one of the largest crowds of the season at the civic hall, of course is the championship. The “Irish” must bowl over the Purple and Golds to finish in a tie with Woodrow Wilson High.
Then there is the individual and team scoring records for the 1937-38 series at stake. Both of these are at present in the possession of the “Presidents,” who rounded out their four-game schedule last Saturday night by defeating Camden, 41-31, to finish with three victories and one defeat.
Camden Has Mental Edge
Catholic at present shows a log of two wins and a single loss, the latter coming at the hands of the “Prexys” after the Barrymen had previously conquered Eddie Carrigues minions in an extra-period game, 42-41.
Camden will enter Tuesday’s game with nothing to gain or lose. As a result the charges of Coach Arthur “Hutzy” Blaker hold a mental edge over Catholic’s players, who have not won the title since the inception of the city series five years ago.
Naturally players on both clubs will be out to give everything they have Tuesday night. One group will be striving to salvage some glory from an inglorious season by scoring its first win in the city series and the other striving to acquire a title even though it will have to share it with Wilson. If successful Catholic will have tied for the crown twice, sharing honors with Camden in the inaugural series.
Although Wilson holds the upper hand in scoring by virtue of having engaged in four games against three each for Catholic and Camden, the “Irish” stand a fine chance of wresting both of these honors from the Thirty-first and Federal streets institution.
Dixon Paces Scorers
Ray Dixon, who played a prominent part in each of Wilson’s series games and has been a consistent offensive performer throughout the season, is pacing the players in the series. Garrigues’ ace forward, who is noted for his follow-up shots, scored a total of 40 points, netting 14 field goals and making good 12 out of 19 foul attempts.
But Bob Olesiewicz, Catholic’s star pivot man, is running Dixon a mighty close race. While the latter leads in both total points and number of fouls made, Olesiewicz is only a step behind the leader.
“Ossie” has turned in a total of 37 points in three games, leading the field with 15 field goals and accounting for seven out of 12 free throws. Without a doubt, unless he is bottled up completely, Olesiewicz should carry away the individual scoring records following Tuesday’s tussle.
Then there is the possibility that Catholic may also pull down team honors, should the entire club go off on a scoring spree. The “Irish” need 49 points to nose out Wilson for team honors.
‘Prexys’ Top Teams In Scoring
The “Presidents” garnered a total of 146 points in their four games, and also lead in the number of field and foul goals, sinking 51 of the former variety and 44 out of 67 penalty heaves.
Catholic on the other hand has collected a total of 98 points, netting 39 double-deckers and 20 out of 41 foul casts.
Dave Lewin, another Wilsonite, ranks third in the scoring with 29 points, while Captain Bob Boyd also of the “Prexys” is fourth with 26 counters and Fred Ackerman, of Catholic, is fifth with 21 points.
Ray Patton, the chunky forward on Blaker’s quintet, leads Camden High’s scorers and ranks sixth with 20 points.
One of the features of the series is the remarkable foul shooting exhibited by the Woodrow Wilson players. The Orange and Black clad youngsters made good 65.6 of their shoots, sinking 44 out of 67. They also lead both Catholic and Camden in the number of field goals with 55.
City Series Leaders
Ray Dixon
Bob Olesiewicz
These two eagle-eyed sharpshooters are setting the pace in the fifth annual city series individual scoring race. Dixon, Woodrow Wilson High forward, completed his four-game slate with a total of 40 points, while Olesiewicz, Catholic’s center, ranks next with 37 points scored in three games and stands a fine chance of pulling down top honors in the “Irish” remaining game with Camden next Tuesday night.
WOODROW WILSON
| G | Fld | Fl | FT | Pts | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dixon, f-g | 4 | 14 | 12 | 19 | 40 |
| Lewin, f | 4 | 11 | 7 | 10 | 29 |
| Boyd, f-c-g | 4 | 9 | 8 | 12 | 26 |
| Hoffman, g | 4 | 6 | 5 | 7 | 17 |
| Byrd, c-g | 4 | 7 | 2 | 5 | 16 |
| Davis, c-g | 4 | 4 | 7 | 11 | 15 |
| McAlack, g | 4 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 3 |
| L. Dunn, g | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Letzgus, f | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Hill, c-g | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Crane, f | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Miller, g | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 51 | 44 | 67 | 146 |
CAMDEN CATHOLIC
| G | Fld | Fl | FT | Pts | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Olesiewicz, c | 3 | 15 | 7 | 12 | 37 |
| Ackerman, g | 3 | 9 | 3 | 8 | 21 |
| Puciluski, g | 3 | 5 | 4 | 7 | 14 |
| McGraw, f | 3 | 5 | 2 | 7 | 12 |
| Caridi, f | 3 | 4 | 1 | 4 | 9 |
| Kenney, g-f | 3 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 4 |
| Heigh, f-g | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Franks, c | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 39 | 20 | 41 | 98 |
CAMDEN HIGH
| G | Fld | Fl | FT | Pts | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Patton, f | 3 | 8 | 4 | 8 | 20 |
| Martin, c | 1 | 3 | 4 | 7 | 10 |
| Gordon, g | 2 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 9 |
| Gorecki, f-g | 2 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 8 |
| Quick, f | 1 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 7 |
| Walls, g | 1 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 5 |
| Klein, g-f | 3 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 5 |
| Young, c | 2 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 4 |
| Wilkerson, c | 2 | 0 | 2 | 8 | 2 |
| Troncone, f | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| Walls, c | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| Krattenmaker, g | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| Wells, c-g | 2 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 1 |
| Roman, g | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
| 28 | 21 | 51 | 77 |
Scores of Previous Games
Woodrow Wilson, 27; Camden, 26.
Camden Catholic, 28; Camden, 20.
Camden Catholic, 42; Woodrow Wilson, 41 (extra period).
Woodrow Wilson, 37; Camden Catholic, 28.
Woodrow Wilson, 41; Camden, 31.
Delikat Stars on Mound As Mates Gain 7-1 Win
Camden Courier-Post —
Walker Robins Hand Lincoln 13 to 0 Shellacking in Aaron Circuit
DOWNS HURLS VICTORY
With Al Delikat limiting the opposition to two safe blows, St. Joseph’s Polish measured off the East Side entry to a 7–1 defeat in Aaron Twilight League rivalry. The score was 7 to 1.
The win was the fifth in eight starts for the third-position St. Joseph’s, firmly defending their chances for third position. The A.C.C. was its ninth straight defeat.
The second-position Walker Robins had little difficulty with the opposition from Lincoln in another league tilt, with Lincoln bowing 13 to 0 shellacking at Broadway and the adjoining street.
Pierson went the distance on the mound for Polish and was knocked around for several safeties, farming seven. Delikat sent down eight of the opposition on strikes.
St. Joseph’s opened with three runs in the first inning and this proved enough to win the ball game. The tileholders then followed with two counters in the fifth and one each in the eighth and ninth.
Bob Olesiewicz of Polish A.C.C. stroked out a double and a single to lead the offense for the winners.
The Walker Robins went on a 13-hit spree to hand Lincoln a neat defeat, with Downs twirling the victory and limiting the East Side entry to one single in the game.
Pollard and Phillips each ribbed out three safeties to lead the attack for the Walker Robins, while Johnny Saddler’s three blows starred for Lincoln.
Al Delikat — Robert P. Olesiewicz
37 Camden Men Pass Tests for City Firemen
Camden Courier-Post —
Thirty-seven candidates have passed the Civil Service test for fireman in the Camden City fire department. Thirty-two of those who qualified are former service men and three of them, disabled veterans, were placed at the top of the list under the preference given by law.
Joseph T. Hackett, of 158 Branch Village, is listed first, Owen D. Gale, 320 Marlton avenue, second and August L. Johnson, 916½ Chestnut street, third.
The salary on Jan. 1 will begin at $2400 and reach a maximum of $3160 after four years.
Following is the complete list of those who qualified in the test:
Joseph T. Hackett, 158 Branch Village; Owen D. Gale, 320 Marlton avenue; August L. Johnson, 916 Chestnut street; Harry Sterling, 112 Ablett Village; Albert A. Stinger, 1423 Bradley avenue; Jesthroe Hunt, 753 Walnut street; Harold H. Pike, 429 Penn street; Roy R. Moffa, 216 Morse street; Allen F. Hess, 2733 Sherman avenue; Franklin W. Whylings, 602 North Thirty-second street; William L. Gosnell, 3303 Crescent drive; David W. Humphries, 3017 Mickle street; William G. Winstanley, 510 Penn street; Joshua H. Robinson, 1934 Kossuth street; Henry S. Keubler, 936 Broadway; Adolph S. Zubrzycki, 1223 South Tenth street; Ralph H. Palmer, 585 Mickle street; Alexander P. Matis, 903 Haddon avenue; Earl G. Robinson, 1036 Penn street; Anthony J. DiMaggio, 530 South Eighth street; Earl A. Smith Sr., 201 Biedeman avenue; Philip J. MacDonald, 123 North Eleventh street; Robert P. Olesiewicz, 321 Mt. Vernon street; Eugene E. Demers, 2034 High street; Chester J. Gedrich, 1154 Thurman street; John F. Chudzinski, 1043 Thurman street; Samuel D. Siniscalki, 803 Line street; Santo DiMaggio, 319 Beckett street; Ludwig Polniak, 471 Pfeiffer street; George P. Baxter, 817 Howard street; Ralph F. Schaffer, Canterbury apartments; Joseph J. McTaggart, 3135 Waldorf avenue; Louis J. Monahan, Canterbury apartments; John DiMaggio, 319 Beckett street; William N. Stone Jr., 950 Vine street; Casper J. Martelli, 220 Mt. Vernon street; and H. Raymond Dixon, 439 Trenton avenue.
Woman Gas Victim Saved by Camden Rescue Squad
Camden Courier-Post —
The hour-long effort of a fire department rescue squad Friday night saved a woman who tried to kill herself by gas.
Police said Mrs. Florence Marshall, 46, of 330 North Tenth Street, locked herself in the bathroom and turned on a gas jet. They added she was despondent because her daughter, Eva, 22, was planning to marry and leave home.
A son, William, 19, broke down the bathroom door and dragged the mother from the room. Patrolmen John Voll and Harrison Wilkinson were called and summoned the rescue squad headed by Captains Godfrey Patterson and George Boone.
It took the squad an hour to revive Mrs. Marshall by artificial respiration. She was taken to Cooper hospital and later to police headquarters, where she was released for a hearing Monday on a charge of attempted suicide.
Other members of Rescue Squad 1 are george baxter, William Watkin, John Mogck, Edward Brendllnger, Arthur Ballinghoff, Christopher Moll, Edwin Decker, Carl Wirtz, Robert Olesiewicz, John Kolessar and Raymond Banford.
Firemen Here Get Advanced First Aid Course
Camden Courier-Post —
More than 40 members of the Camden Fire Department have completed the Red Cross course in advanced first aid according to announcement today by Howard F. Keller, Collingswood, chairman of the Camden County Chapter’s first aid committee.
Instruction sessions were under the direction of Fire Chief William V. Pfefferle, Drillmaster Anthony Dzinski, a member of the local chapter first aid group, assisted by Nicholas E. George, were instructors. Dzinski is a member of the Red Cross faculty at the National Aquatic School held in this area each year for instruction in advance safety techniques. Dick Harris, director of Red Cross safety services, supervised.
All members of the graduating class are personnel of several units housed at fire department headquarters here. These include the Headquarters Company, Engine Company 2, Rescue Squad 1 and truck company 1. these groups include:
Rescue Squad: Captains Arthur Batten, Philip A. Stinger and albert weller; Edward Brendlinger, harrison macneir, Robert Olesiewicz and james w. smith.
Headquarters Company: raymond banford, John K. Voll and john w. yates.
Truck Company 1: Captains Daniel Jiannetto, Robert E. Dukes and otto v. kaiser; William Watkin, chester gedrich, George Baxter, john mogck, George C. Hennessy, Charles Devlin, Ambrose W. Faust, joseph mctaggart, Howard R. Taggart, William G. Winstanley and elmer johnson jr.
Engine Company 2: Captains James R. Asher, Thomas Winstanley; Carl Wirtz, james mcgrory, Edwin V. Decker, james stewart, Francis X. McTaggart, anthony t. orme, Mario D. Fattore, james o. jones, Francis P. Stibi, william hopkins, Robert E. Briggs, John Guiliano, casper martelli, Harold H. Pike, john j. vane, William Stibi, john dimaggio and Harry Kleinfelder.
7 Firemen Take Oaths in Camden
Camden Courier-Post —
New Captain Named
ROBERT OLESIEWICZ
Seven of the 14 vacancies in the city’s fire department were filled yesterday and a new fire captain named by Public Safety Director Keith Kauffman.
Robert Olesiewicz, 47, was promoted from fireman to captain. He will be assigned to Ladder Company 1 at fire headquarters, 3rd and Arch Streets. Olesiewicz, who lives at 1194 Morton Street, has been with the fire department 15 years.
The seven new firemen sworn in yesterday were George C. Kurtyan, 21, of 2812 Hayes Avenue; Robert B. Shaw, 26, of 455 Morse Street; Richard C. Francesconi, 23, of 506 Rand Street; Nelson L. Savidge Jr., 25, of 2002 Howell Street; Thomas M. Prosinsik, 21, of 1381 Kenwood Avenue; Michael C. LaFrance, 22, of 488A Rand Street, and Kenneth Penn, 21, of 1773 Norris Street.
Fire Chief Edward Michalak said the new men will have a six-week training course before being assigned to various companies throughout the city.
He said the new additions will bring the fire department up to 180 men. The full complement is 187.
In Recognition…
Camden Fire Department — Fire Watch Magazine, Spring 1977
| Anniversary Dates | Congratulations To | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Name | Years | Name | Years | Name | Years |
| Fr. Howard G. Brickner #5 | 26 Years | Fr. Harvey J. Fisher #186 | 26 Years | Capt. James W. Smith | 26 Years |
| Dep. Chf. Anthony C. Saponare | 35 Years | Fr. Andrew H. Foreman #183 | 26 Years | Fr. William J. Stibi #120 | 26 Years |
| Batt. Chf. Robert E. Dukes | 30 Years | Fr. Henry S. Keubler #34 | 26 Years | Fr. William M. Stone #29 | 26 Years |
| Insp. Fr. George C. Hennessy #21 | 30 Years | Fr. Joseph J. Lesniewski #50 | 26 Years | Capt. William G. Winstanley | 26 Years |
| Dep. Chf. Daniel F. Jiannetto | 30 Years | Fr. Phillip MacDonald #7(1 | 26 Years | Fr. Adolph S. Zubrzycki #62 | 26 Years |
| Dep. Chf. Theodore L. Primas | 30 Years | Fr. Joseph J. McTaggart #26 | 26 Years | Batt. Chf. John J. Giuliano | 21 Years |
| Fr. Eugene F. Alston #7 | 29 Years | Batt. Chf. John J. Mogck | 26 Years | Insp. Fr. Alfred D. Nigro #76 | 21 Years |
| Batt. Chf. Biaggio P. Ardire | 29 Years | Capt. John E. Moore | 26 Years | Fr. Leon Puszczykowski #100 | 21 Years |
| Fr. William R. Harring #69 | 29 Years | Capt. Robert P. Olesiewicz | 26 Years | Fr. John L. Sterner #73 | 21 Years |
| Fr. William E. Hinch #151 | 29 Years | Capt. Anthony T. Orme | 26 Years | Fr. Francis P. Stibi #143 | 21 Years |
| Capt. Herbert J. Schott | 28 Years | Fr. Ralph H. Palmer #46 | 26 Years | Fr. Carl R. Szalkowski #95 | 21 Years |
| Batt. Chf. Charles A. Bates | 26 Years | ||||
| Members as listed above, have anniversary dates which fall during the first quarter | |||||
City honors firefighters retiring after 38 years
Camden Courier-Post —
By SEAN McKINNEY
CAMDEN — It was the end of an era.
The city council honored six of its oldest firefighters yesterday, three days before they were set to retire. Each has worked 38 years for the fire department.
Also honored was Deputy Chief James McMaster, who is retiring at the age of 48 after 26 years of service.
“If I’m not mistaken, we have just witnessed 254 years of dedication,” said Council President Gwendolyn Faison after proclamations were read honoring each man. “Let’s have another round of applause.”
Among the retirees was John Mogck Jr., chief of the 250-member fire department since 1981. Mogck received a standing ovation from the council members and members of the audience at the regular caucus meeting.
Mogck’s replacement, Battalion Chief Kenneth Penn, 45, is to be sworn in on Monday by Mayor Melvin R. “Randy” Primas.
The others retirees included Capt. Anthony Orme, 65, and Capt. Robert Olesiewicz, 69.
Also honored, but not attending the meeting, were Capt. John DiMaggio, 70, and firefighters William Stone, 65, and Phillip MacDonald, 69.
All but McMasters had been forced to retire by a recent state Supreme Court decision upholding the mandatory retirement age of 65 for public safety employees.
The six were among 50 men who were hired in 1951 to increase manpower in the fire department to reduce work weeks from 72 to 56 hours. The current work week is 42 hours.
“I started at $2,400 a year,” said Mogck in a recent interview. “Now I make $52,000. I’ve seen many changes, most of them improvements brought about by the unions.”
In other action yesterday, the city attorney’s office was criticized on three fronts.
Frank McGuckin, president of Local 788 of the International Association of Firefighters, accused city Attorney Patricia Darden of trying to force firefighters Charles Arline, 40, and Robert Allen, 44, to retire because of work-related injuries.
Arline was involuntarily retired by city council Aug. 24. No official action was taken on Allen’s case.
McGuckin said after the meeting that Darden was trying to use forced retirement to pressure injured firefighters into returning to work before they recovered.
But the union president said the practice was illegal. He said Arline’s forced resignation, which was to go into effect today, was reversed by city Business Administrator Patrick Keating. That could not be confirmed last night.
Darden, making a rare appearance at a council meeting yesterday, walked out of the meeting as McGuckin spoke. Later, in an interview, she said she knew nothing about the issue, saying pension decisions were made by Keating, who could not be reached late yesterday.
“She’s a liar,” said McGuckin, also contacted later. “I spoke to her about this.”
In another matter, two recipients of $10,000 grants from the city charged the legal department was holding up contracts that would release the grants.
Carlos M. Soto of the Mi Casita Day Care Center said he had been waiting since June 9 to use the grant to repair a roof at the center. Carlos Peraza of the Latin American Economic Development Association Inc. (LAEDA), said he had been waiting since Aug. 24 to use the grant to assist Hispanic businesses.
Darden said her department was not asked by the city purchasing department to draw up a contract for Mi Casita until Sept. 20 and that her office was still awaiting notice on the LAEDA grant.
Firefighters honored: Camden Council President Gwendolyn Faison (center), surrounded by retiring firefighters, holds a resolution honoring their years of service to the city. Shown are (from left): Capt. Robert Olesiewicz (38 years of service), Faison, Capt. Anthony Orme (38 years), Chief John Mogck (38 years) and Deputy Chief James McMaster (26 years).
Courier-Post photo by Curt Hudson
Retirement Letter from Chief John J. Mogck Jr.
City of Camden Fire Department —
CITY OF CAMDEN FIRE DEPARTMENT
3rd & Federal Sts. Camden, N. J. 0810228 February, 1990
On this date, Captain John DiMaggio, Captain Robert Olesiewicz, Captain Anthony Orme, Fire Fighter Philip MacDonald, Fire Fighter William Stone and myself, will be retiring from the Department. Thirty-nine years ago, each of us were appointed and assigned to units in the 1st Battalion. During these many years and with few exceptions, we have remained in the 1st Battalion.
I am leaving the job with fond memories of the men I have had the distinct pleasure of serving with, and a treasure of great experiences. As Chief I have strived to the best of my ability, to better the Department; with some success.
The Camden Fire Department is 121 years old this year. It is a great organization with a very proud history. It however, has always been important to understand that the Department does not belong to any of us who currently serve. It instead belongs to all the men who came before us; and all of those who will come after us. It is to them that we owe our efforts. We that currently serve are only interim caretakers of a living tradition; each of us having been given the privilege to earn a living while contributing to this institution we call Fire Department. In this spirit; and for this opportunity, I am both honored and grateful.
I wish to leave each of you a few words of advice. Beware of the slimeball tactics of individuals who choose to use the Department to improve their personal ambitions. They will not hesitate to jeopardize any of you; your reputation or your job security to achieve their selfish goals. Beware!
I wish everyone good health; happiness and the very best of everything. Most of all — Be Careful.
Sincerely,
John J. Mogck Jr.
Chief of Department–CFD
CITY OF CAMDEN FIRE DEPARTMENT 3rd & Federal Sts. Camden, N. J. 08102
28 February, 1990
On this date, Captain John DiMaggio, Captain Robert Olesiewicz, Captain Anthony Orme, Fire Fighter Philip MacDonald, Fire Fighter William Stone and myself, will be retiring from the Department. Thirty-nine years ago, each of us were appointed and assigned to units in the 1st Battalion. During these many years and with few exceptions, we have remained in the 1st Battalion.
I am leaving the job with fond memories of the men I have had the distinct pleasure of serving with, and a treasure of great experiences. As Chief I have strived to the best of my ability, to better the Department; with some success.
The Camden Fire Department is 121 years old this year. It is a great organization with a very proud history. It however, has always been important to understand that the Department does not belong to any of us who currently serve. It instead belongs to all the men who came before us; and all of those who will come after us. It is to them that we owe our efforts. We that currently serve are only interim caretakers of a living tradition; each of us having been given the privilege to earn a living while contributing to this institution we call Fire Department. In this spirit; and for this opportunity, I am both honored and grateful.
I wish to leave each of you a few words of advice. Beware of the slimeball tactics of individuals who choose to use the Department to improve their personal ambitions. They will not hesitate to jeopardize any of you; your reputation or your job security to achieve their selfish goals. Beware!
I wish everyone good health; happiness and the very best of everything. Most of all — Be Careful.
Sincerely, John J. Mogck Jr. Chief of Department–CFD
Fire Department Record Card
Robert P. Olesiewicz — Camden Fire Department record card