The Jersey City Gong Club has it's own Pablo Picasso.  John “Rince” Rinciari,73, is a retired Yonkers Emergency Service Unit police officer.  Like many blue bloods, his first love is the fire service.  

Rince grew up in the Bronx and hung out at some of the busiest fire companies in the country back in what is known as the “War Years” period.  As a youth, he started out as an FDNY explorer and then an auxiliary fireman.  While taking civil service tests, the Yonkers PD was the first to call and he took the job.  He served the city for 32-years.

In his retirement, he couldn't get the cop and fire business out of his blood.  He had been a member of numerous bag pipe groups; however, due to should injuries from the job he could no longer play. His interest turned to art, that he excelled in high school.  His projects include paintings and leather work.  Rince said he got involved with art to satisfy his “creative needs,” and he finds it “soothing.”  

The artist buys rolls of leather, draws out a shape, and paints his creations.  This has included a display of six helmet front pieces replicating Jersey City fire companies. That is on display in the club's kitchen.  Also on display are hand leather made replicas of the FDJC's dress uniform patch and the Gong Club's 75^th anniversary patch.  He has also restored two old helmets and made Engine 7 front pieces for them.  They are also on display in the kitchen.  The club's quarters was the former home of this engine company.  Presently, the Gong Club quarters and canteen truck are located on the ground floor and the department's credit unit occupies the second-floor of the Summit Avenue building. So, there are always local firefighters going in and out.    

Additional art work on display includes a painting of the “Gong Wagon” canteen truck operating at a winter scene fire.  In addition, there is a painting of 13 club members sitting along the club's long kitchen table.  The Gong Club's version of “The Last Supper”! 

Rince's latest project has been a painting of a Jersey City incident command scene from a photo that appeared on the cover of the August, 2025, edition of Fire Engineering magazine.  The second-alarm fire occurred in February, 2024, and the photo was taken by a member of the Gong Club crew.  This painting is on display on a kitchen wall, and the cover photo is framed and on display in the hallway, along with other Jersey City cover photos.  

Rince takes pride in his work and enjoys promoting the city fire department and  the club.  He found out about the fire buff organization from a member that grew up with him and chased fire trucks.  Rince visited the club during some events and joined when he was 72. An old rookie!  

John Rinciari, who retired with the rank of detective, is a survivor of five different 9/11 related illnesses.  He and his ESU members reported to the World Trade Center on 9/11 after the towers had fallen.  His crew was assigned to a rescue/recovery mission by the NYPD.  

In his later years, he is happy to be back in a firehouse again responding to fires and working on the canteen truck, and making friend with firefighters in the area including Jersey City and North Hudson.