By Ann DeMatteo
New Haven Register, Conn.
NORTH HAVEN, Conn. — Sometimes, when Fire Chief Vincent Landisio walks by the photograph of the late John P. Rosadini on the wall at fire headquarters, he thinks about everything Rosadini did to establish and build the career Fire Department.
“I think about what a good job he did to get us to where we are today. How could you not be a visionary when you’re doing everything for the first time?” said Landisio, the town’s fourth fire chief. “It’s a monumental task when you put forth a new organization, its initial rules and regulations, the first labor agreement and all the tactical and operational issues.”
Rosadini was the town’s first fire chief, and in his memory and honor, the fire headquarters at 11 Broadway will be named after him Saturday.
Everyone is invited to the unveiling of the sign that designates the building the Chief John P. Rosadini Headquarters. The event, to be followed by a picnic, will take place rain or shine at about 1 p.m., after the Memorial Day parade and ceremony. Anyone who has ever worked in the town’s fire service and their families have been invited.
Retired Firefighter Martin Carlo Jr., who was close to Rosadini and his widow, will deliver remarks about Rosadini and his life.
The idea to dedicate the building after Rosadini, who retired in 1983 and died in 1989 at the age of 71 of colon cancer, came from his brother, Pasquale Rosadini, who still lives in town.
“My brother was the first paid chief and the first paid fireman. He was a fireman for more than 30 years. I knew the town dedicated the police station to the Bernieres (the late police chiefs and brothers Leno and Walter), and I thought it was only fitting to do the same for John,” Pasquale Rosadini said.
“I pushed for it, and now I’m not going to be there,” said Rosadini, 93, who on Saturday morning will be flying to Washington, D.C., with 120 World War II veterans to see various veterans memorials as part of the American Warrior Connecticut Honor Flight. “I guess I will write another letter to thank the town.”
But Rosadini’s widow, Betty, 83, will be there, as well as their three children and seven grandchildren.
“I wouldn’t miss it. He joined as a volunteer fireman as a young guy. When we got married, he was the part-time fire marshal, and then on March 1, 1964, he became the first paid fire chief and fire marshal,” Betty Rosadini said.
At the time, Rosadini oversaw all the town’s volunteer firefighters. On April 1, 1967, the career Fire Department started with the hiring of John Obier, Charles Porter, Nicholas Merola, William Kerr, Joseph Mappa, William Buehler and Paul DePoto. Obier and Merola later became chief, and Porter was a deputy chief.
“He was very proud of this town and dedicated his life to advance the department” said Deputy Chief Frank Gersz, who was hired by Rosadini as the town’s 20th firefighter.
John Rosadini was the kind of kid who used to chase fire trucks down the street, Pasquale Rosadini said.
“It was in his blood to be a fireman. When he could become a volunteer, he joined in early 1938 after me, and then he became a lieutenant, a captain and assistant chief. He was in a firefighting unit in the Army during World War II. He was strictly a fireman, the people’s fireman,” Pasquale Rosadini said.
Copyright 2009 New Haven Register (Connecticut)