FILE/Longport Firefighter Anthonoy J. Vicchiarelli Jr. is recognized in February 2020 for 50 years of service.
LONGPORT The borough's volunteer firefighters are mourning the loss of their president, Anthony J. Vicchiarelli Jr., a longtime firefighter who died on May 16, 2024 at the age of 70. He lived in Margate for many years before moving to Northfield.
Vicchiarelli was a member of the Longport Volunteer Fire Department for 54 years. He joined the department as a high school senior in 1970 and held every administrative post, rising to the rank of captain and serving as secretary and president. He was also a police dispatcher in the borough and worked as a police officer in Atlantic City.
Although he retired, he maintained administrative oversight of the department. Firefighters said there would be a huge void for us to fill moving forward. He was the type of person that would give you the shirt off his back and always made everyone feel comfortable and part of the Fire Department Family.
Vicchiarelli was instrumental in upgrading the department's fire equipment and obtained a 25-foot Coast Guard rescue boat for the borough in 2017.
He was honored by the Board of Commissioners in February 2020 for achieving 50 years of service and being a lifelong advocate for public safety and good public servant.
He is a real asset to the Borough of Longport as a whole and the Fire Department, Fire Chief Levon LeftyClayton said at the time.
Margate Fire Chief Dan Adams, who is also a Longport volunteer, said Vicchiarelli provided the department with hours and hours of dedicated service.
There's not a day goes by that he's not spending hours in the office upstairs doing something for the Fire Department, Adams said during the presentation. He is here all the time with dedication and support.
A viewing will be held 5-8 p.m. Wednesday, May 22 at the George H. Wimberg Funeral Home, 1707 New Road, Linwood, NJ 08221. An additional viewing will be held 9:30 a.m. Thursday, May 23 at Holy Trinity Parish Blessed Sacrament Church in Margate, followed by Mass of Christian Burial at 11 a.m. He will be buried at Holy Cross Cemetery in Mays Landing.
A full obituary will be published at https://www.ghwimberg.com/
