1920-1939 DEATHS

Death Notices and Obituaries
1920 - 1939

Also see CHIEF ENGINEERS Deaths
Also see SUPREME SACRIFICE

March 16, 1920: Retired Chief Patrick Sweeny death. Appointed as a driver of Engine 4 August 3, 1885; Captain March 20, 1890; became PFD's first ever Deputy Chief April 4, 1908 - Retired June 30, 1912. His son James later became a D/C and was a LODD in 1938

CLICK for more info on Chief Sweeney

June 14, 1920: F/F Allison Roswell - Appointed March 1, 1890 - Driver & Stoker Engine 7

June 16 Morning Call

Allison Roswell

August 22, 1920: Lieutenant and Engineer John Knaus - An original PFD appointee (1890) -Had 31 year PFD career - Served E1 and E2

August 23 Morning Call

John Knaus at Engine 2

November 18, 1922: FF Edward Slingland - Active member of Truck 1 dies at age 51 - Appointed in 1895 - Also served Engine 6, Engine 4 and Truck 2.

Edward Slingland

November 20 Morning Call

November 6, 1923: Captain Cornelius Prince of Engine 12 - dies of heart attack after responding to a fire on North 7 North Main Street: this is a Line of Duty Death (Supreme Sacrifice). Appointed July 1, 1905. Served at Engine 2, 3, 5 (Engineer), 9 and as Captain (February 14, 1922) at E1 and then E12

Engine 2 1907

November 7

Engine 5 1913

March 21, 1924: Retired Assistant Chief John Gilmore (in command during the great 1902 fire). Was an original 1890 appointee. Retired 1912. Never held any other rank. Was a foremen of Vigilant Engine 6 of Volunteer Department

April 3, 1924: Engineer Paul Wentink Appointed October 1, 1910

April 4 Paterson News

April 8

Paul Wentink 1913 E5 photo

June 23, 1924: Retired Captain and Master Mechanic - Appointed October 25, 1894 - Became Lieutenant and MM on November 5, 1905. Retired September 5, 1922.

June 21 Morning Call

William Ward

June 23 Paterson News

November 15, 1924: FF John Brady (former FMBA President) - Appointed July 1, 1905 - Had served at Engine 2

November 18 Paterson News

July 17, 1925: William Stanard, a Civil War veteran and member of G.A.R. who served at Protection Engine 5 of Volunteer department and in 1886 as paid driver of Engine 5 and then in 1890 to paid PFD at Engine 5

July 20 Morning Call

February 13, 1926: Captain John Cluney - appointed in 1890 and promoted to Captain in 1912 and retired in 1920. Dies after a fall - Funeral procession passes Engine 9 quarters (he had served as a lieutenant there).

Guardian - Courtesy Dennis Morrison

Paterson News courtesy Dennis Morrison

Morning Call Courtesy Dennis Morrison

February 26, 1926: Firefighter John Lynch appointed October 10, 1910. Served at Truck 2 and then in 1912 Truck 1

Morning Call courtesy Dennis Morrison

John Lynch at Truck 1 in 1913

January 26, 1927: Captain William Boyle, a former alderman - father of subsequent PFD Captains William and Frank Boyle

Morning Call courtesy Dennis Morrison

January 28, 1927: Walter Sonnenschein, a WWI veteran dies at age 38. Appointed to PFD July 1, 1916.

July 29 Morning Call

May 25, 1927: Retired FF Abraham Perrius - Had served as Chief's aide and at Truck 3 and other companies

May 25 Paterson News

Abraham Perrius - 1907 photo at Engine 9

July 12, 1927: Thomas J Woods at age 44 Active member of Engine 1 Appointed July 1, 1912 - Central Fire Headquarters mentioned in obituary opened March 12, 1912. Wood's cortege passed by the building

July 5 Paterson News

Thomas Woods Engine 1 1913

Paters9n Newsd courtesy dennis Morrison

September 8, 1927: Retired FF Edward Hepp. Appointed November 16, 1895 -

September 9 Paterson News

Edward Hepp at E9 in 1907

September 9 Morning Call

September 9, 1927: FF Frank Connors

November 2, 1927: Retired FF John Vesey dies in auto accident. Appointed March 20, 1890 - Served as a tillerman, a driver and at Engine 7

November 4 Passaic News

February 4, 1928: Death of famed Captain Stewart Taylor - a member (joined 1873) and Foreman of Vigilant Engine 6 of the Paterson volunteer fire department who went on to be the first Captain of Truck 3 in Paterson's partially paid (1890) and fully paid department (1895). Retired 1910. His son David was also a Paterson F/F.

February 4 Paterson News courtesy Dennis Morrison

Captain Taylor

Truck 3 circa 1907

February 10, 1928: Captain William Bloom was appointed July 1, 1905 and served at Engine 6. Appointed as Captain July 18, 1916.

February 11 Morning Call

William Bloom as a FF at Engine 6 in 1907

September 28, 1928: FF Leonard Chadwick appointed April 1, 1908 - Served at Engine Companies 4 and 7

Press Guardian courtesy Dennis Morrison

Leonard Chadwick at Engine 4 in 1913

September 28 Morning Call

March 3, 1929: Deputy Chief - Ernest Fields - Served Volunteer Department - Appointed to paid PFD March 1890 - Served as Lieutenant and Captain at Engine 1 - Became 1st BC (probationary) June 1, 1912 (permanent B/C on October 19, 1912) - Deputy Chief September 17, 1916 - Retired 1926

March 4 Morning Call - Courtesy Dennis Morrison

May 23, 1929: Captain Felix McCann was originally with the Paterson Volunteer Department. Appointed paid PFD in November 1895 but still active on job, passes away. Initially served Truck 1 - appointed Lieutenant July 17, 1908

Felix McCann as Lieutenant T1 in 1913

May 22 Guardian courtesy Dennis Morrison

March 26 Morning Call

September 21, 1929: Edward Moore- former Volunteer fireman of Lafayette Engine 8

September 24 Paterson News

November 17, 1929: Lieutenant Robert Wright - Appointed as an original member of paid PFD on March 20, 1890 - Appointed Lieutenant E8 June 1, 1905. Served Engine 5 and 8

November 18 Morning Call

Lieutenant Wright Engine 5 1907

Lieutenant Wright Engine 8 1913

Lieutenant Wright at Training School

December 7, 1929: Edward Kerwin - Served at Washington 3 in Volunteer Department - Was a callman on E3 and E6 in early 1890s - Called a "Hero" of the 1902 fire (came back that night as a volunteer)

December 8 Morning Call - Courtesy Dennis Morrison

May 29, 1930: Retired FF Dennis Toomey - Appointed July 1, 1905 - Served Engines 7 and 9 - Father of Paterson FF John Toomey

May 29 Morning Call

Dennis Toomey Engine 19 1907

Dennis Toomey Engine 7 1913

July 7, 1930: Retired FF Thomas Fish - Appointed March 1, 1894 - Retired 1922

July 8 Morning Call

Thomas Fish Engine 2 1907

October 29, 1930: Captain John Weber, the first Captain of Truck 2 (March 1890). Served at Germania 2 of Volunteer Department and hired in 1885 as the company tillerman. Was PFD's first drillmaster and ran training school at almshouse. Retired in May 1920.

October 30 Morning Call

1893 phloto

CLICK FOR CAREER REVIEW OF CAPTAIN WEBER

January 10, 1932: Retired FF Daniel Gregory - Served Liberty Engine 7 in Volunteer department and as a Callman in Engine 7 and then Engine 1 of paid department in 1890-1895

January 11 Morning Call

February 16, 1932: Retired Lieutenant William Marshall Appointed March 21, 1894 Lieutenant at Truck 2

February 16 Morning call

Lieutenant Marshall at Truck 2 1907

July 15, 1932: Captain William Laughlin Appointed 1895 - Promoted to Lieutenant July 17, 1905 at Engine 4 -

July 15 Morning Call

Lieutenant William Laughlin 1913 E4

September 28, 1932: Death of Joseph Titus appointed November 6, 1909. Retired August 1932. [Uncle of FF and future DC Walter (Lester) Titus]

Joseph Titus at Engine 6 in 1913

October 3 Morning Call courtesy Dennis Morrison

November 23, 1932: FF Michael Ryan - Was a Paterson Volunteer firemen and an early driver for Chief Stagg - also served as Engineer in Engines 6, 9 and 7. An FMBA president

Michael Ryan

November 25 Morning Call

November 27, 1932: Retired FF James Cullington - 32 years with PFD. Appointed March 13, 1892 and served at Engine 4 and retired in 1923

November 28 Morning Call

Thomas Cullington at Engine 4 1907

March 7, 1932: John J Canning - Served Paterson Volunteer Department

March 8 Morning Call

May 7, 1933: Retired FF John Daly - Appointed July 1, 1905 - Served 27 years at Truck 3 - Retired February 15, 1933

May 8 Paterson News

May 22 Morning Call

May 11 Morning Call

John Daly Truck 3 1907

June 13, 1933: Michael Gueterman (active member of Engine 2) Appointed July 1, 1905

June 13 Paterson News

Michael Gueterman (listed as Ginterman) in 1907 E2 photo

June 19 Paterson News

December 12, 1933: Charles B Townley - Appointed July 1, 1916 - Served at Truck 3 and Engine 4

September 13 Paterson News

March 31, 1934: William Morrison Served at Jackson Engine 4 of the Volunteer Paterson Fire Department - Served as Callman at Engine 4 March 20, 1890 - 1895

April 2 Morning Call

April 3, 1934: Fireman David Taylor - Appointed March 4, 1903 - 31 years of service - Served Engines 1, 5, 6 and Theater Detail. Son of Truck 3 original (1890) Captain Stewart Taylor

April 4 Morning Call

David Taylor Engine 1 1907

Morning Call courtesy Dennis Morrison

April 24, 1934: Matthew Ferguson last rites - Appointed September 11, 1905 - Served Truck 3

Morning Call courtesy Dennis Morrison

April 28 Paterson News

Matthew Ferguson Truck 3 1907

October 13, 1934: FF John J Kelly Appointed July 1, 1908 -

Morning Call courtesy Dennis Morrison

April 24, 1935: FF John H Kedash - Foreman Lafayette Engine 8 in 1885

April 26 Paterson News

March 2, 1936: Joseph Dolan of Truck 1 - served 26 years - Appointed July 1, 1910

March 3 Paterson News

Joseph Dolan 1913 Truck 1

March 4 Morning Call

October 16, 1936: FF John Hill 17 year PFD veteran Engine 9

Paterson News

John Hill 1936 Ball Book Engine 9

December 8, 1936: William J Dale

December 9 Morning Call

January 14, 1937: Retired Captain Thomas Bush - Appointed June 4, 1904 - Served at Truck 3 - Promoted to Lieutenant, January, 20, 1911 & Captain at Engine 10 July 1, 1912 and then drillmaster

January 22, 1937: Firefighter Richard Haley Appointed July 1, 1912 - Engine 9

Richard Haley Engine 9 1936

January 31, 1937: William Farrell Appointed March 20, 1890 Served as Engineer at Engine 8

February 1 Paterson News

William Farrell - Engineer Engine 8 1907

March 6, 1937: John Ellis - Served at Lafayette Engine 8 of Volunteer department - Appointed as paid fireman in 1887 as the first driver of Engine 8 Retired 1914

March 8 Morning Call

March 10 Paterson News

John Ellis Engine 8 1907

March 18, 1937: John J Condon Served Volunteer (Paterson Steam Fire Engine Company 9) and Paid Departments - Appointed March 1, 1893) - Retired 1923 - Served as Engineer at Engine 8 and FMBA President

March 19 Morning Call

John Condon

April 19, 1937: Retired Captain James O'Neill - Served as Volunteer and Paid PFD (as Call man & FF, Lieutenant and Captain 33 years of service Retired 1920

April 20 Morning Call courtesy Dennis Morrison

April 23, 1937: William Smith Appointed October 1, 1910 Engine 4, Engine 2

April 26 Morning Call

William Smith 1936 BB Engine 2

June 14, 1937: Harry Lister former Volunteer and Paid Paterson fireman Appointed March 20, 1890 as a Tillerman of Truck 3

July 15 Morning Call

June 16 Morning Call

July 5, 1937: Captain William Boyle Jr of Engine 10 Appointed July 1905 - First PFD firefighter promoted to Lieutenant - Served Truck 3, Engine 9 and Engine 1 - Brother of Captain Frank Boyle and son of original 1890 PFD Captain (E8) William Sr.

William Boyle Jr 1908 photo

July 6 Paterson News

July 5, 1937: Thomas Woods Appointed July 1, 1912

Paterson News

Thomas Woods 1913 Engine 1

July 7, 1937: Philip Kearney, former FMBA President appointed in 1902. Served at Engine 4, Hose House, Chief Stagg Driver and Theater Detail

July 8 Paterson Evening News

July 8, 1937: Thomas J Graves dies at age 32 - Marine Corps veteran - Appointed PFD October 1, 1927 - Served at Engine 3 - Uncle of future Mayor Frank X Graves

July 10 Morning Call

Thomas Graves Engine 3 1936

July 10 Paterson News

September 3, 1937: Captain Martin Gleason Appointed June 21, 1899 - Lieutenant July 1, 1912 - Retired 1927

September 8 Morning Call

Martin Gleason (as a Lieutenant) - 1913 Engine 9

September 14, 1937: John Burrell Gray - US Navy Veteran - Appointed June 1 1923 - Retired 1933- Served Engine 10 and at Headquarters

September 14 Morning Call

October 13, 1937: James Howe - Served Volunteer - Lafayette Engine Company 8 - Was a Paterson Exempt fireman

Morning Call

November 13, 1937: Adam Berghorn Sr. - Served Volunteer Department at Paterson Steam Engine Company 9

March 11, 1938: Thomas Petty - Appointed April 1, 1922

March 12 Morning Call

Thomas Petty Engine 4 1936

March 12 Paterson News

March 24, 1938: William Walsh - Appointed October 1, 1913 - Served Truck 1 and Engines 2, 10 and 11. Brother of Paterson LODD FF Edward Walsh.

March 24 Paterson News

William Walsh 1936 Engine 10

March 25 Morning Call

May 2, 1938: John Glass - firemen during Volunteer Era (Paterson Steam Fire Engine 9)

July 1, 1938: Retired FF Jacob Smith

July 2 Paterson News

October 6, 1938: Adam Berghorn former volunteer FF

October 7 Morning Call courtesy Dennis Morrison

October 13, 1938: Appointed 1916 - A Popular FF of Engine #13. FMBA officer and veteran Elmer Probert dies at young age. Two brothers George T. and Howard F. were also Paterson firefighters.

October 17 Morning Call

November 3, 1938: retired FF Edward Ball - Appointed January 24, 1905 - Served Engine 5 and as Aide to BC John Specht and then Engine 8. Retired October 1, 1934.

November 3 - Paterson News

November 4 Morning Call courtesy Dennis Morrison

Edward Ball at Engine 5 in 1907

January 25, 1939: FF John Chapman served Volunteer & paid PFD - Served several companies and as a lineman at FAO. Appointed March 20, 1890.

Morning Call courtesy Dennis Morrison

January 27 Paterson News

February 11, 1939: Retired FF Robert Giebelhausen appointed 1903

Morning Call courtesy Dennis Morrison

May 25, 1939: FF Dennis Toomey served PFD 30 years

Morning Call courtesy Dennis Morrison

June 12, 1939: Retired Captain Charles Simonton - Civil War Veteran - Appointed March 21, 1894 and assigned to Engine 1 - 1897 - assigned to Chemical Company 1 - Appointed Captain at Engine 3 in 1899 - Later served as Captain at Chemical Company 1, Engine 8 in 1910 and then in 1912 Engine 6. Brother of famed Captain Sam Simonton.