- Date Of Death: June 23, 2008
- State: New Jersey
Joseph Arnao, age 92, died Monday June 23, 2008 at the Marcella Center in Burlington Township. Mr. Arnao was born in Rockwood, PA to the late Orazio and Mary (nee Pagano) Arnao. Joe and his family moved to Burlington following the death of his mother and has remained a lifelong resident. In his youth, Joe was a talented musician and played the saxophone, clarinet, mandolin and banjo.
He was asked to help start a band for the Niagara Hose Co. No. 6 in Burlington City. Through this involvement he became a member of the fire company in 1937 and has been a dedicated volunteer ever since. Joe has risen through the ranks of the fire company serving in the offices of Assistant Foreman, Foreman, Assistant Chief and Chief of the City of Burlington Fire Dept. in 1967. Joe was also a member of the Burlington County Fire Police and a past Captain of the Burlington City Fire Police, a position he held for over ten years. He was a Chairman on many committees within the Niagara Hose Co., the City of Burlington Fire Department and many of the Burlington County Organizations to which he belonged.
Joe was a member of the International Association of Fire Chiefs, and a past president and life member of the following organizations; NJ State Fire Police Association, Burlington County Fire Chief’s Assoc., Burlington County Fire Police Assoc., Burlington County Firemen’s Assoc., Burlington County Exempt Assoc. and the Burlington City Exempt Assoc. He was the vice president of the Burlington City Relief Assoc., and the Burlington County Fire Training Council. He served as a Burlington County Fire Coordinator for over twenty years, and as a committee member of the Burlington County Fallen Firefighters Memorial Service. He also dedicated time and energy to the Burlington County Fire Training Grounds and as a fire police instructor for over twenty seven years, positions which enabled him to train and pass along the wealth of knowledge and experience of over seventy years in the fire service to younger firefighters.
For his tireless and dedicated service to his community, Joe has been awarded the Distinguished Service Award and Ben Franklin Silver Medal, as well as several proclamations from the City of Burlington, Burlington County and the State of NJ. Predeceased by his brothers Pasquale, John, Anthony and Frank, Mr. Arnao was also predeceased by his wife of 60 years, Emily (Betty) Arnao. He is survived by his daughters and son in law: Emily West of Medford, Jo Marie and Carlton Shinn of Springfield Twp., and Dottie Arnao of Roebling, his grandchildren Vincent (Carol) DiTullio and Paul DiTullio of California, Lorraine (Stephen) Fazekas and Heather (Kevin) Shoppas of Burlington Twp., Rachel (Stephen) Wilkins of Mullica Hill, Chad Jacobsen and Amy Jacobsen of Roebling and seven great grandchildren.
He is also survived by his brothers Luciano and Charles Arnao, his sister Florence Fritter and step brother Samuel Ochipinti.
