Residents, family, friends and members of the Jamesburg Fire Department came to pay their respects and share in the last ride of firefighter James Mazzio on Monday. Firefighter Mazzio, 88, of Jamesburg, pass
By Amy Batista, Special Writer
JAMESBURG — Residents, family, friends and members of the Jamesburg Fire Department came to pay their respects and share in the last ride of firefighter James Mazzio on Monday.
Firefighter Mazzio, 88, of Jamesburg, passed away on Jan. 9 at the University Medical Center of Princeton at Plainsboro and was laid to rest on Jan. 13.
”Jimmy was a sweet man,” said Mayor Marlene Lowande on Tuesday. “He was a staple in our community. He was well respected. I think our fire department did a great job at saying goodbye.”
On the days leading up to the funeral, members spent hours cleaning the building, trucks, as well as planning and making sure everything was perfect for a man who was “so dedicated to the department.”
”He will be missed by many members at the department, which has shown already just by the amount of members who came out and attended the viewing services and funeral detail,” said Jamesburg Fire Department Chief Jason Muller on Tuesday. “I think our guys knew we wanted to give him the best send off possible. Jimmy is someone who left memories with everyone at the fire department. He was called ‘Uncle Jimmy’ by many guys at the fire department, not just the actual nephews that he did have in the department.”
The Jamesburg Fire Department posted the announcement of his death on its Facebook page Jan. 9.
”JFD mourns the loss of Jimmy Mazzio who volunteered for more than 50 years,” the post said.
He was an “active firefighter” who had 53 years with the department, which he joined in 1953.
Firefighter Mazzio held many positions during his years of service in the department.
He served as chief from 1976 – 1978 and served as the President in 1981, 1984, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989, and 1992.
He also served as a borough fire commissioner, as well as other line officer positions throughout his years of service.
He was also a U.S. Army veteran of World War II, a member of the American Legion Post #127, and a former policeman in Jamesburg.
His daughter Christine Niven posted on the Jamesburg Facebook page on Jan. 11 telling everyone how “the kind words we are reading everywhere are so very helpful at this time.”
”My father dedicated most of his life to the JFD and was very proud of it,” the post by Ms. Niven read. “You are all living up to what made him proud.”
According to his obituary, he was predeceased by his brothers Danny, Matthew, Dominick and Joseph and his sister Angelina Legato.
Surviving are his wife of 62 years Josephine Spicuzza, his son James of Jamesburg, his daughters, Christine Holtz-Niven and Linda Lynch, both of Jamesburg, his brothers Rocco of Edison and Anthony of Arizona, his sisters Betty Reid of Spotswood and Millie Burdge of Jamesburg, Antoinette Suta of Lakewood and Mamie Adanca of Marlboro.
He had eight grandchildren and 16 great grandchildren.
The Jamesburg Fire Department antique Mack 1956 truck carried firefighter Mazzio’s body from St. James Roman Catholic Church on Lincoln Avenue for one final ride past his house on Pergola Avenue before stopping at the firehouse on the apron for his “last call.”
During this time, the fire department members lined up on the apron to salute firefighter Mazzio while the siren could be heard sounding from the firehouse before the procession to St James Cemetery.
”Jimmy was always known for being around,” Chief Muller said. “He was someone you knew was going to respond to every call.”
He carried the highest call response rate for several years, according to Chief Muller.
”He was a good mechanic and was always looking to try and fix our trucks on his own so the department could save the money on the truck repairs,” Chief Muller said. “He was very meticulous in the way he kept his own yard and he brought that way of thinking to the fire department and tried to keep everything well organized.”