Camden People - Arthur J. Gibson

ARTHUR J. GIBSON was appointed to the Camden Fire Department on November 29, 1968.

In 1994 Arthur Gibson served with 4th Platoon, Engine Comany 3, 1815 Broadway, along with Ralph Jones and Mark Kogut under Captain Anthony Dowidowicz.

After over 26 years of distinguished service, Arthur J. Gibson retired from the Camden Fire Department on November 1, 1995.

Arthur J. Gibson spent his last days at the New Jersey Firemen's Home at Boonton, New Jersey. He passed away on February 2, 2010.

Camden Courier-Post * December 26, 1968

ANTHONY C. SAPONARE

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.

www.1stRESPONDERNEWS.COM - June 17, 2008

EDISON FIREFIGHTERS DONATE 200 CLUB VALOR AWARDS CASH PROCEEDS
TO NEW JERSEY FIREMAN'S HOME

On June 12 eight professional firefighters from the Edison Fire Department who were recent recipients of valor awards from the 200 Club of Middlesex County donated the cash portion of their awards to the New Jersey Firemen’s Home at a special ceremony held at Edison’s Fire Station 2. An over sized symbolic check for $1,600 was presented to three retired firefighters who are currently residents at the home.

Edison Fire Department Lieutenants Kenneth Milcsik, Duane Borwegen and Joseph Horvath along with firefighters William Doherty, Phillip McManus, William Pellegrino, Milton Asprocolas and Hared Shulamn were cited for exceptional valor. The eight were recognized for three separate incidents where they rushed into burning buildings to rescue occupants, all of whom were unconscious.

On June 2, 2007 Lt. Milcsik and Firefighter Doherty entered a heavily involved fire at 82 Plainfield Avenue. They began searching for an elderly man reportedly in a rear bedroom prior to the fire being controlled and in advance of a protective hose line being stretched. The man was found unconscious on a bedroom floor and successfully removed from the burning building.

On December 2, 2007 Lt. Borwegen and other firefighters entered a structure fire at 12 Lily Court and began searching for occupants in near zero visibility and high heat. Lt. Borwegen and Firefighters McManus and Pellegrino entered the fire room and despite clear dangers to themselves, found and successfully removed an unconscious woman lying on the floor.

The third incident cited by the 200 Club occurred at a structure fire on March 29, 2007 at Lydia Lane. Lt. Horvath and firefighters Asprocolas and Schulman, despite battling zero visibility and extreme heat found and removed a victim who was lying on the floor.

The firefighters were joined at the ceremony by officials from the Edison Fire Fighters Association and Edison Paid Fire Officers Association. Accepting the donation on behalf of the home were 67 year old Art Gibson who served 30 years wit the Camden Fire Department, 94 year old Jim Byrne who served 15 years with Rescue 1 in Lodi and 67 year old Bob Cuess who served 7 years with Hook & Ladder in Little Ferry.

“This is a great example of the fraternal and unique nature of the fire service,” said Robert Yackel, President of the Edison Fire Fighters Association. “It’s great to have a chance to spend some time and give back those who preceded us in this in this noble calling.”

The New Jersey Firemen’s Home located in Boonton was established in 1898 and is mandated by the state legislature to care for the aged, indigent and disabled firefighters of New Jersey. It is the only nursing home in the state dedicated exclusively to the care of firefighters. Additional information on the New Jersey Firemen’s Home can be found at www.njfh.org