Otto
V.

Kaiser

OTTO V. KAISER was born in Camden, New Jersey on February 2, 1913 to Marie and Charles G. Kaiser. His parents both came to America as children, Marie from Norway, Charles from Switzerland, and wed around 1903. By 1910 and well into the 1920s they were living at 904 North 26th Street in Camden's Cramer Hill section. Charles Kaiser worked in Camden's shipyards to support his family. Otto Kaiser was one of at least seven children, born after older siblings Charles S., Roy, Elsie, and John, while coming before little sisters Margaret and Elizabeth. Otto Kaiser was still living at 904 North 26th Street as late as 1947. By that time he was married to his wife, Alberta. Otto Kaiser later made his home at 917 North 26th Street in Cramer Hill. 

Otto V. Kaiser was appointed to the Camden Fire Department on September 20, 1940. He reported for duty the same day at Ladder Company 1, then based at the old Fire headquarters at North 5th and Arch Streets, where her served until December 31, 1949. 

On January 1, 1950 Otto Kaiser was transferred to Engine Company 11 on North 27th Street in Cramer Hill, where he worked until May 18, 1951 when he was sent to Ladder Company 2, 619 Kaighn Avenue in South Camden. Three years later, on May 26, 1954 Otto Kaiser was promoted to Captain. He remained at Ladder Company 2 until January 7, 1955 when he was returned to Ladder Company 1. 

On August 1, 1961 Captain Kaiser was sent to Engine Company 3 at 1815 Broadway where he served at Acting District Chief (duties akin to that of present-day Battalion Chief). 13 months later, on August 31, 1962 Otto V. Kaiser was promoted again, to the post of drillmaster at the Fire Training School, where he worked until his retirement, August 12, 1967.

Otto Kaiser passed away in August of 1976. He was then a resident of Wittman, in Talbot County, Maryland. He was survived by his wife, who passed in September of the following year.

Camden Courier-Post * December 4, 1940

Camden Courier-Post * August 19, 1957

Firemen Here Get Advanced First Aid Course

More than 40 members of the Camden Fire Department have completed the Red Cross course in advanced first aid according to announcement today by Howard F. Keller, Collingswood, chairman of the Camden County Chapter's first aid committee. 

Instruction sessions were under the direction of Fire Chief William V. Pfefferle, Drillmaster Anthony Dzinski, a member of the local chapter first aid group, assisted by Nicholas E. George, were instructors. Dzinski is a member of the Red Cross faculty at the National Aquatic School held in this area each year for instruction in advance safety techniques. Dick Harris, director of Red Cross safety services, supervised.

All members of the graduating class are personnel of several units housed at fire department headquarters here. These include the Headquarters Company, Engine Company 2, Rescue Squad 1 and Truck Company 1. These groups include: 

Rescue Squad: Captains Arthur Batten, Philip A. Stinger and Albert Weller; Edward Brendlinger, Harrison MacNeir, Robert Olesiewicz and James W. Smith.

Headquarters Company: Raymond Banford, John K. Voll and John W. Yates.

Truck Company 1: Captains Daniel Jiannetto, Robert E. Dukes and Otto V. Kaiser; William Watkin, Chester Gedrich, George Baxter, John Mogck, George C. Hennessy, Charles Devlin, Ambrose W. Faust, Joseph McTaggart, Howard R. Taggart, William G. Winstanley and Elmer Johnson Jr.

Engine Company 2: Captains James R. Asher, Thomas Winstanley; Carl Wirtz, James McGrory, Edwin V. Decker, James Stewart, Francis X. McTaggart, Anthony T. Orme, Mario D. Fattore, James O. Jones, Francis P. Stibi, William Hopkins, Robert E. Briggs, John Giuliano, Casper Martelli, Harold H. Pike, John J. Vane, William Stibi, John DiMaggio and Harry Kleinfelder.

Camden Courier-Post
December 22, 1961

Joseph Arensberg
Otto Kaiser
Engine Company 11 - Engine Company 9
Engine Company 2 - Engine Company 7
Ladder Company 1 - Ladder Company 3
Harry Wagner
Rescue Company 1
North 32nd Street
North 35th Street
South 35th Street
North 36th Street

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Cartun Hardware - Irving Cartun - Robert D. Halsey - James E. Wright - Coleman Rosenberg
Merle Rosenberg - Calvin Miller - Robin Miller - Wendy Miller - Elyse Miller
Major William Gwynne - Volunteers of America