1965 Airman Second Class U.S.A.F.

Photo compliments of
F/F Mark "Shortround" Tomaselli
Ladder Co. 306 Hackensack F.D.

WE'RE OUTTA HERE!!!!!

Thats me on the left. This photo was taken during a lighter moment at a recent alarm where a resident in the process of sterilizing latex baby bottle nipples forgot about them.
After the water boiled away with the usual results, the house filled with smoke and we got the call.
Standing next to me is F/F Lou Picarelli, the best chef to ever grace a firehouse kitchen.
Lou and I completed our 25 years on August 5th 1999 and both retired on September 1st.

Engine 304 / 3rd Platoon Circa 1998

(L to R) F/F Pete Rocco (our Probie at the time), Capt. Joe Yannotti (one of the best of the best),
F/F MPO Mike Fitzpatrick ("I am reality"), F/F Lou Picarelli (#1 Nozzleman & #1 Chef)

Capt. Joe Yannotti (Retired 8-01-01)

In case anybody is wondering, the music being played is the theme song from the 1960's movie
"THE GREAT ESCAPE"

Fire Service Recognition Day May 1976

This photo was taken on Fire Service Recognition Day in May 1976.
The handsome gentleman with the really neat pants standing next to a much thinner me is Fireman Jerry Caterino of FDNY Tower Ladder 14 in East Harlem.
I met Jerry in 1975 when I ventured over to 14 Truck (the second company to operate a Tower Ladder in the FDNY) to get information on Tower Ladder Operations.
They welcomed me with open arms and invited me to ride (which I did for the next 5 years) with them and loaded me up with information about tower ladders.
Jerry later promoted to Lieutenant and finished up his career in the Bronx at Ladder 39 "The Pride of Woodlawn".
After he retired he attended Divinity School, became a minister and was appointed a Chaplain with the Hackensack Fire Dept. in 2002.
The little boy in the lower left of the photo wearing the Phila. Phillies basebal cap is Jerry's son Tony who followed in his fathers footsteps and is now a Firefighter with FDNY Ladder Co. 47 in the Castle Hill section of the Bronx.
Tony is seen (second from right) in the picture below after a recent "All Hands" fire.

Last modified on Sunday, January 13, 2008