Roy Rocco Moffa
Captain Roy Moffa of Engine Company 2 following a four-alarm fire at a commercial paint factory in Cramer Hill, Fall 1967
ROY ROCCO MOFFA was born January 1, 1919 at 305 Stevens Street, Camden, NJ, the youngest of eleven children to Mary (nee D'Andrea) and Joseph Moffa. He was an army veteran of WWII, serving in the South Pacific from 1941–1945 as a Gunnery Sergeant.
Roy Moffa passed the Civil Service for the Camden Fire Department in 1949. He was then living at 216 Morse Street. He was appointed to the Fire Department on April 1, 1950. With brothers Anthony and Joseph already serving in Camden's Police Department, Roy Moffa took the Civil Service Test on May 6, 1950, and scored ninth. He was still living at 216 Morse Street.
After serving 36 years with the Camden Fire Department, he retired with the rank of Captain, having received 3 unit awards and a citation for bravery.
Among his assignments, Roy Moffa served as a captain with Engine Company 2.
The Moffa family lived at 2402 Patton Street in the early 1960s. By 1966 they had moved to 161 South 27th Street in East Camden. When residency restrictions for city employees were lifted in the 1970s, he moved to Stratford, New Jersey.
Captain Moffa retired on January 1, 1987.
Married to the former Linda Cipollone, he was the father of four daughters, Elena, Judy, Lisa, and Linda, and a son Roy Joseph Moffa. He was a devout Christian and a member of Calvary Bible Church in Deptford, NJ.
Roy Rocco Moffa succumbed to the effects of Alzheimer's Disease at Laureldale, Pennsylvania on September 2, 2003. He was survived by his wife, children, 17 grand-children and 8 great-grandchildren.
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.
Chiefs Are Appointed
Camden Courier-Post —
Promotions were made today to fill four vacancies in the City Fire Department.
Director of Public Safety Keith Kauffman announced the promotion of Allen F. Hess, 40, of 3064 Mickle Street, and John Giuliano, 38, of 419 N. 38th Street, to battalion chief.
Hess was appointed to the department in November, 1950, and made captain in May, 1960. Giuliano was appointed January, 1956, and received his captain rank in July, 1960.
The new battalion chiefs replace Charles and Godfrey Patterson, brothers, who have retired.
Named to fill the vacancies created by the promotion of Hess and Giuliano are Richard Brooks, 33, of 1081 N. 34th Street, a member of the department since January, 1961, and Roy Moffa, 47, of 161 S. 27th Street, a member since November, 1950.
An Actual Fire Service Rescue Story
Text and Photos courtesy of Dennis Dowhy: An Actual Fire Service Rescue Story — City of Camden, NJ
Camden Firemen outside of City Hall — 1980s
L to R: Ron Boyle, Bill Kammen, Frank McGuckin, Bill DiPompo, Sonny Frett, Bill Kammen Jr., Bud Rotchford, Captain Roy Moffa
Fire Watch Magazine — Summer 1997
Camden Fire Department — Local 788
The above photo was taken when Engine 2 and the 1st Battalion serviced a standby assignment for an aircraft landing. The aircraft brought Governor Brendan Byrne to the city to inspect progress on the Cooper Medical Center's Expansion Project. Mayor Errichetti was on hand to greet the Governor, and both executives were delighted to pose with two of our members for this publication's photographer. Shown above are l to r: B.C. Kenneth Penn, 1st Battalion; Mayor Angelo Errichetti; Governor Brendan Byrne; and Capt. Roy Moffa, E.2.
Fire Department Service Card
Roy Rocco Moffa — Camden Fire Department service card
Obituary
Camden Courier-Post —
MOFFA, ROY ROCCO
Age 84 years old, entered into glory on Tuesday, September 2, 2003 at Manor Care, Laureldale, PA where he has resided since Dec. 2001.
Beloved husband of Linda (nee Cipollone), he was the father of Elena Godal of Reading, PA, Judy Roesler of Tabernacle, NJ, Roy Joseph Moffa of Havertown, PA, Lisa Scanish of Parkesburg, PA and Linda Ross of Gilbert, AZ. Grandfather of 17 and great grandfather of 8.
He was born January 1, 1919 at 305 Stevens Street, Camden, NJ, the youngest of eleven children to Mary (nee D'Andrea) and Joseph Moffa. He was an army veteran of WWII, serving in the South Pacific from 1941–1945 as a Gunnery Sergeant. After serving 36 years with the Camden Fire Department, he retired with the rank of Captain, having received 3 unit awards and a citation for bravery. A devoted Christian, he was a member of Calvary Bible Church in Deptford, NJ.
Friends may greet the family from 11am–12noon Saturday Sept. 13 at the BRADLEY FUNERAL HOME, Rt 73 & Evesham Rd., Marlton, where a Memorial Service will be held at 12 noon. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations in Mr. Moffa's memory to the Alzheimer's Assoc., 11000 Lincoln Dr. West, Suite 7, Marlton NJ 08053.