177. Small Town Pride, Big Picture Mentality - Joe Palumbo, Sr.

Small town roots run deep, very deep. Joe Palumbo, Sr. lives in Pennsauken, NJ, volunteered for Pennsauken, NJ and recently retired from Pennsauken, NJ. His love of the community lead him down the road of finding the fire service. Volunteering in 1994 was a great time to be a fireman in Pennsauken, NJ. Jobs were bountiful and the hook was instant. Joe knew firefighting was going to be his career. After a few stops along the way, Joe found himself hired by his hometown department. He has hit many milestones after 28 years in the fire service, including being the first career Chief for the township. He is certainly proud of the history and culture that is present within the department. But this didn't come with ease. There were tremendous growing pains over the years while transitioning from a large volunteer model to today's combination department. The process was bumpy and not without struggles. Looking back, Joe reflects on how the department was "losing our relevance to the community" and that change was needed. He credits so many that he served with along the way as to why the current fire protection within the township is where it is today. Acknowledging his own sacrifices though, Joe now knows that being caught up in every aspect of the small town fabric certainly can take its' toll. Proud of his accomplishments and where the department is today, Chief of Department Joe Palumbo, Sr. retired at the end of 2022. As he continues to visit the firehouse to share a cup of coffee, it is now his turn to provide the storytelling while keeping the history alive. Educating the next generation about the foundation of this proud department is imperative so that the buy in remains strong. After all these years, Joe's legacy will live on through those that he touched along the way. His demeanor and steadfast approach makes Joe Palumbo, Sr. a stand out. He now gets to watch his son take the reins and continue on the family tradition within the town they love, Pennsauken, NJ