Camden People - Robert P. Olesiewicz

ROBERT PAUL OLESIEWICZ served the City of Camden as a firefighter for over 39 years, reporting for duty on January 1, 1951 and retiring as a Captain on March 1, 1890. Born in Camden on August 10, 1919 to Zygmunt Olesiewicz and his wife, the former Sophie Peplowski, Robert P. Olesiewicz grew up in Camden's then predominantly Polish Whitman Park neighborhood. His father had come to America from Poland in 1913. The family was living with Zygmunt Olesiewicz's brother Joseph at 1008 Mechanic Street when the census was taken in January of 1920. The 1924 and 1929 Camden City Directories shows the family at 1418 South 10th Street, a short walk from St. Joseph's Catholic Church. His parents would still be in this home as late as October of 1970.

Robert Olesiewicz had married Anna Marie Whittaker and was working as an electrician when he was inducted into the United States Army on February 26, 1942. Returning to Camden after completing his service, the 1947 Camden City Directory shows him living with his wife Anna at 321 Mount Vernon Street. He was appointed to the camden Fire Department on December 20, 1950 and , as stated above, reported for duty on January 1, 1951. Robert Olesiewicz was promoted to Captain on February 1, 1966.

By 1970 he and his family had moved to 1194 Morton Street. Sadly, Robert P. Olesiewicz's wife Anna passed away on June 5, 1973. Tragedy struck again on August 27, 1982 when daughter Anna Marie Olesiewicz was murdered by Richard Biegenwald, who was tried and sentenced to death for the crime. He was permitted to die in prison by the New Jersey State Supreme Court.

Robert P. Olesiewicz retired from the Camden Fire Department on March 1, 1980. He passed away on March 18, 1983.

Camden Courier-Post * February 17, 1938

'Y' VARSITY CONQUERS COACHES
Mentors Bow by 55-51; Catholic High Beats Limited Seniors, 35 to 27

The Camden Y.M.C.A. varsity quintet took the measure of the South Jersey Coaches by 55 to 51 last night in a free-scoring tussle at the "Y" court.

Fields and fouls were plentiful during the tussle with the Y.M.C.A. outfit racking up a total of 20 baskets from scrimmage and 15 of 23 foul attempts. Bill Ackerman and Al Scott led the attack for the winners with 11 counters apiece, while Art Blaker, Camden High mentor, was the big gun on the offense for the Coaches with five fields and seven fouls for 17 counters.

The preliminary tussle brought together the Camden Catholic High quintet and the Y.M.C.A. Limited Seniors with the scholastic outfit gaining the decision by 35 to 27. Bob Olesiewicz, star center, led the attack for Catholic with seven fields and two fouls for 16 counters, while Eddie Biehler starred for the Limited Seniors with four and one for nine points. Catholic led all the way and was out in front by 16 to 10 at the
intermission.

Camden Courier-Post - February 16, 1952

Woman Gas Victim Saved by Camden Rescue Squad

The hour-long effort of a fire department rescue squad Friday night saved a woman who tried to kill herself by gas.

Police said Mrs. Florence Marshall, 46, of 330 North Tenth Street, locked herself in the bathroom and turned on a gas jet. They added she was despondent because her daughter, Eva, 22, was planning to marry and leave
home.

A son, William, 19, broke down the bathroom door and dragged the mother from the room. Patrolmen John Voll and Harrison Wilkinson were called and
summoned the rescue squad headed by Captains Godfrey Patterson and George Boone.

It took the squad an hour to revive Mrs. Marshall by artificial respiration. She was taken to Cooper hospital and later to police headquarters, where she was released for a hearing Monday on a charge of attempted suicide.

Other members of Rescue Squad 1 are George Baxter, William Watkin, John Mogck, Edward Brendllnger, Arthur Ballinghoff, Christopher Moll, Edwin Decker, Carl Wirtz, Robert Olesiewicz, John Kolessar and Raymond Banford.

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 Guiliano, Casper Martelli, Harold H. Pike, John J. Vane, William Stibi, John DiMaggio and Harry Kleinfelder.

Camden Fire Department - FIRE WATCH MAGAZINE, SPRING 1977

IN RECOGNITION…..

ANNIVERSARY DATES:		CONGRATULATIONS TO:
Fr. Howard G. Brickner #5	26 Years	Fr. Harvey J. Fisher #186	26 Years	Capt. James W. Smith	26 Years
Dep. Chf. Anthony C. Saponare	35 Years	Fr. Andrew H. Foreman #183	26 Years	Fr. William J. Stibi #120	26 Years
Batt. Chf. Robert E. Dukes	30 Years	Fr. Henry S. Keubler #34	26 Years	Fr. William M. Stone #29	26 Years
Insp. Fr. George C. Hennessy #21	30 Years	Fr. Joseph J. Lesniewski #50	26 Years	Capt. William G. Winstanley	26 Years
Dep. Chf. Daniel F. Jiannetto	30 Years	Fr. Phillip MacDonald #7(1	26 Years	Fr. Adolph S. Zubrzycki #62	26 Years
Dep. Chf. Theodore L. Primas	30 Years	Fr. Joseph J. McTaggart #26	26 Years	Batt. Chf. John J. Giuliano	21 Years
Fr. Eugene F. Alston #7	29 Years	Batt. Chf. John J. Mogck	26 Years	Insp. Fr. Alfred D. Nigro #76	21 Years
Batt. Chf. Biaggio P. Ardire	29 Years	Capt. John E. Moore	26 Years	Fr. Leon Puszczykowski #100	21 Years
Fr. William R. Harring #69	29 Years	Capt. Robert P. Olesiewicz	26 Years	Fr. John L. Sterner #73	21 Years
Fr. William E. Hinch #151	29 Years	Capt. Anthony T. Orme	26 Years	Fr. Francis P. Stibi #143	21 Years
Capt. Herbert J. Schott	28 Years	Fr. Ralph H. Palmer #46	26 Years	Fr. Carl R. Szalkowski #95	21 Years
Batt. Chf. Charles A. Bates	26 Years
Members as listed above, have anniversary dates which fall during the first quarter

Camden Courier-Post - December 9, 1949

...continued...
	Joseph T. Hackett - Owen Gale August L. Johnson - Harry Sterling Albert A. Stinger - Jesthroe Hunt Harold H. Pike - Roy R. Moffa Allen F. Hess - Franklin Whylings William L. Gosnell - David W. Humphries William G. WInstanley - Joshua Robinson Henry S. Keubler - Adolph S. Zubrzycki Ralph H. Palmer - Alexander P. Matis Earl G. Robinson - Anthony J. DiMaggio Earl A, Smith Sr. - Philip J. MacDonald Robert P. Olesiewicz - Eugene E. Demers Chester J. Gedrich - John F. Chudzinski Samuel D. Siniscalki - Santo Dimaggio Ludwig Polniak - George P. Baxter Ralph F. Schaeffer - Joseph J. McTaggart Louis J. Monahan - John DiMaggio
William N. Stone - Casper J. Martelli - H. Raymond Dixon