Introduction
Thomas J. DiBiaso
THOMAS JOSEPH DiBIASO was born in Haddonfield, New Jersey on February 9, 1935 to Pauline and Carmen DiBiaso.
Thomas DiBiaso enlisted in the United States Air Force in September of 1954. He was honorably discharged in June of 1958, and returned to South Jersey, where he worked at a number of jobs.
Thomas DiBiaso was appointed to the Camden Fire Department on November 29, 1968. He was then living at 2840 Pierce Avenue in Camden's Cramer Hill neighborhood.
Thomas DiBiaso's career with the Camden Fire Department came to an abrupt end on December 19, 1971, when a fire in the vacant John R. Evans Leather Company building in North Camden at North 2nd and Erie Streets went to a general alarm. Thomas DiBiaso was operating the nozzle of Ladder 3, which was fully extended so water could be put on the burning building, when, suddenly, the ladder sheared off the truck. Thomas DiBiaso fell 30 feet, fracturing his skull, elbow, wrist and pelvis. He retired on full pension as a result of his injuries effective March 1, 1973.
A resident for many years of Cherry Hill, New Jersey, his last years were spent at Cape May Court House. On June 8, 2014 he lost his long and courageous battle with cancer. He was survived by his wife, the former Madalena Lucero, six children and a host of grandchildren and a great-grandson, as well as his brother, Daniel DiBiaso.
Camden Courier-Post — December 26, 1968
Camden Courier-Post —
25 Firemen Finish Training
In a move aimed at staffing the Camden Fire Department for a new 42-hour work week, 25 probationary firemen will be graduated from the city fire academy Monday and 10 fire officers will be given promotions Tuesday.
Heading the list of fire officer promotions will be the selection of Battalion Chief Anthony C. Saponare, 51, of 117 S. 27th Street, Camden, as deputy fire chief. The new deputy chief is a 26-year veteran on the city fire force.
Two fire captains to be promoted to battalion chief are Matthew J. Davies, Jr., 36, of 2819 Carman Street, Camden, and James H. Stewart, 54, of 317 Garden Avenue, Camden.
Seven firemen to be named captains include William D. Hillman, 29, of 11 Crestfair Apartments, Camden; Joseph H. Arensberg, 32, of 1041 N. 32nd Street, Camden; Robert E. Briggs, 48, of 2861 Congress Road, Camden; and John Brzozowski, 28, 371 N. 34th Street, Camden.
Also to be named captains are Edmund F. Gorczynski, 36, of 272 N. 33rd Street, Camden; Anthony T. Orme, 44, 3317 River Road, Camden; and William B. Young, 29, of 1126 N. 33rd Street, Camden.
The new firemen include Richard E. Johnson, Thomas H. Eckel, Ronald C. Crowder, John A. DeLuca, Peter P. Carbone, Robert P. Hand, Robert M. Lapp, Jerome A. Kee, Thomas V. Kane, Charles E. Mayo, James C. Peterson and George S. Szychulski, all of Camden.
Other slated fire school graduates are Ronald Angemi, Robert C. Welch, Robert G. Boyle, Glenn H. Moore, Marvin W. Bendy, Thomas J. DiBiaso, Arthur J. Gibson, Daniel J. Galasso, Samuel Battle Jr., Ronald J. Boyle, Jerome J. Watson, George R. Abbey, 3rd., and William H. Huelas, all of Camden.
The appointments of all 35 men become effective Jan. 1, 1969.
Camden Courier-Post — December 20, 1971
Camden Courier-Post —
Fireman Injured as Plant Burns
By ROBERT N. SANDLER — Courier-Post Staff
A 36-year-old fireman, injured yesterday when the ladder from which he was battling a general-alarm fire at a vacant leather tanning plant in North Camden ripped from its base, was reported in satisfactory condition today in Cooper Hospital, Camden.
Thomas DiBiaso, of 2840 Pierce Ave., Camden, was admitted to the hospital's Intensive Care Unit with multiple cuts, a broken wrist and elbow and a possible fracture of the skull.
Witnesses said DiBiaso, a three-year veteran of the fire department, fell about 30 feet and landed on the roof of one plant building when the ladder separated from its base. A second fireman, David Sanders, 38, of 2943 Berkeley St., Camden, who was just starting up the ladder at the time, suffered only minor injuries.
John R. Evans Leather Company Fire — December 19, 1971
Photos by Bob Bartosz
Ladder Company 3 (second alarm Truck) gets water on fire at the former John R. Evans Leather Company leather tanning plant in North Camden on December 19, 1971. Firefighter Thomas J. DiBiaso operating the ladder nozzle. This incident went to a Fourth Alarm. Photo by Bob Bartosz
Photo taken moments after Ladder Company 3’s aerial fell, severely injuring Firefighter Thomas J. DiBiaso. Photo by Bob Bartosz
Photo by Bob Bartosz
Photo by Bob Bartosz
Dense smoke billows from former John R. Evans Company leather tanning plant in North Camden — Photo by Robert Cave
Photo by Bob Bartosz
It took 3½ hours to bring the blaze under control. This photo and the one below were taken shortly before the wall collapsed, as also depicted below and on the cover of Fire Engineering magazine’s March 1972 edition. Photo by Bob Bartosz
Photo by Bob Bartosz
Photo by Bob Bartosz
John R. Evans & Company factory wall collapsing
Cover photograph: firefighters operating at the John R. Evans & Company leather tanning plant fire, December 19, 1971. Photo by Bob Bartosz.
Caption: March 1972 Edition — Fire Engineering Magazine. The Fire of December 19, 1971: John R. Evans & Company Plant Destroyed. Photo by Bob Bartosz.
Camden Courier-Post — December 22, 1971
Camden Courier-Post —
N. Camden Boys: 5 Juveniles Arrested in Plant Blaze
Five North Camden boys are in the Camden County Children's Shelter at Lakeland following their arrests yesterday in connection with Sunday's general-alarm fire at a vacant leather tanning plant at Second and Erie Streets.
The boys, between the ages of 11 and 14, all live in the vicinity of the waterfront plant, police said.
Three of the juveniles are charged with malicious burning; two, with trespassing.
Face Judge Malandra
They will be arraigned before Camden County Juvenile Court Judge Angelo D. Malandra.
Camden Police Lt. John Giletto, head of the juvenile division, said the boys told police they and other juveniles had been using the former John R. Evans Co. plant as a clubhouse.
They said they panicked and fled when a fire they started in the building Sunday got out of control, Giletto said.
Possibly $200,000
The building's owner, Thomas Greiff, president of Greiff Trucking Co. of Brooklyn, N.Y., placed his loss at between $100,000 and $200,000, according to City Fire Marshal Harold Pike.
Greiff said there was no insurance on the building, Pike said.
Fireman Thomas DiBiaso, 38, who was injured fighting the blaze, was in fair condition in Cooper Hospital.
Service Record
Thomas J. DiBiaso — Camden Fire Department Service Record
Camden Courier-Post — June 10, 2014
Camden Courier-Post —
Thomas J. DiBiaso
AGE: 79 • Formerly of Cherry Hill
Thomas J. DiBiaso of Cape May Court House, formerly of Cherry Hill, died June 8, 2014. He was 79. Beloved husband of Madalena (nee Lucero). Loving father of Jacqueline DiBiaso of Cape May Court House, NJ; Jeannette Bonitatis (Joe) of Marlton, NJ; Rita Thomas (Jeff) of Harrisburg, PA; Donna DiBiaso of Cape May Court House, NJ; Thomas F. DiBiaso of Mt. Laurel, NJ and Lisa Shannon (Tim) of Cherry Hill, NJ. Devoted grandfather of Dannette and Dustin Bonitatis; Tim and Kelsey Shannon; and Michael and Samantha Thomas. Devoted great grandfather of Xavier Bonitatis. Dear brother of Daniel DiBiaso of Denmark. He was a retired Camden City Fireman.
Viewing Thursday evening 7 to 9pm and Friday morning 9 to 10am in the Schetter Funeral Home, 304 West Marlton Pike, Cherry Hill, NJ 08002. Mass of Christian Burial Friday 11am in Christ The King RC Church, 200 Windsor Avenue, Haddonfield, NJ 08033. Interment Locustwood Memorial Park, Cherry Hill, NJ. In lieu of flowers contributions in his memory may be made to American Cancer Society, 1851 Old Cuthbert Road, Cherry Hill, NJ 08034.