A SCHOLARSHIP ESTABLISHED IN HONOR OF HIS DAD
Photo by RON JEFFERSJoe Chiusolo, of Turn Out Uniforms, sixth from left, presented Deputy Chiefs Hart and Daly with a check to start a scholarship in memory of his father, who served as a captain at Engine Co. 11.
Photo by RON JEFFERS
Jersey City, N.J. - Joe Chiusolo grew up in a firehouse. His father was assigned to Engine Co. 11, in his neighborhood. In June, Chiusolo and his daughter, Daniella, paid a visit to the Lincoln Street firehouse with a special purpose.
At a young age, visiting the local firehouse, and watching his father and crew “turn out” to alarms, got into his blood.
Later in life, he worked as an EMT for the Jersey City Medical Center. He joined the Gong Club fire buff and canteen organization, where he was exposed to more fire “war stories,” and buffing fires with club members.
Chiusolo had a keen interest in the uniform and equipment end of the fire service. He began a business out of his basement, starting with Navy blue tee shirts with fire department logos. His business expanded to what is now the well known Turn Out Uniform stores in Jersey City and Little Falls.
Recently, Chiusolo decided establish an annual scholarship fund in honor of his late father. The “Captain John Chiusolo Memorial Scholarship Fund,” will be awarded to the child of an active Jersey City firefighter to support their pursuit of higher education. The scholarship is to honor his father's 37-year legacy of unwavering dedication to the Jersey City Fire Department and his deep commitment to service, community and the Chiusolo family.
On that June 23rd afternoon, Joe and his daughter met with Deputy Chief's Loran Hart and Robert Daly, who represent the Jersey City Fire Foundation, at the firehouse, and presented them with a check to establish the scholarship.
Before the brief ceremony, the pair received a tour of the firehouse, which brought back many memories. Chiusolo came equipped with an envelope of old photos to show the current members parts of the company's history.
During his youth, he remembered a tractor-drawn aerial ladder-Truck 7-shared the apparatus floor with Engine 11. Now, Ladder Co. 7 is located on Palisade av. with Engine 14 and the Haz-Mat units. Engine 11's house is also the current base for the High Rise Tunnel unit.
“Standing in front of the firehouse my dad served, brought back such beautiful memories of visiting him as a young child,” Chiusolo said.
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