My grandfather, Joe Salerno , who turned 93 years old this month, was the asst. fire marshal for the Cicero Fire Dept. a very long time ago. As kids we grew up in the fire house and saw several of the trucks that we named as kids when visiting the guys at the house. Here are some old black and white pics .
I have newspaper clippings with the pics which describe the fires fought. My grandfather started in Cicero in 1954 and became asst marshal in 77. He saved a lot of people including a baby dropped to him from a three story building engulfed in flames . He turned 93 years old last month and he tells us stories of the firefighting days like they were yesterday . We all remember the Cicero firemen from the different fire stations as we literally grew up in the houses . All of the firefighters, both younger and older than my grandfather, have passed . He is the last of his kind and although he still drives and is somewhat active I know that his days are limited as he recently lost his wife last year at 92 years old after 70 years of marriage. He is alone now and his days are long and quiet, but he brightens up when he is able to relive the firefighting days.
Being a WW2 vet, serving in the pacific at the time the atomic bomb was dropped on Japan, and after saving many people during Cicero fires, I am hoping to show him that he leaves a legacy. I believe that we tend to forget the value the our lives had on others as we get older. I hope that his pictures can be added to the website for future generations to see. It would make us proud to show him the value that his life has had on others. I will send any pics I have for the site. On Christmas I showed him your site and we found the houses were he was stationed and we saw trucks that we took pictures in when we were kids as we all had our own trucks at the station. The firefighters were like a second family. He was so excited to see the pics on your site so I am hoping to add to it as the Cicero fire dept archive site has not responded to us.
Bob
Cicero Firefighter Joseph Salerno
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#1 by Bob Cortesi on February 27, 2020 - 12:51 PM
Thanks for the comment John Antkowski. I sent about 25 more pictures and newspaper clippings to Chicagoareafire for others to see. I hope that they are able to post those pictures also.
#2 by John Antkowski on February 25, 2020 - 6:50 PM
Awesome story and great memories. Thanks for sharing those with us! John
#3 by Bob cortesi on February 24, 2020 - 8:56 PM
This is Joe’s grandson . Thank you to those of you leaving comments – our family appreciates the good words . I will show my grandfather the comments and I am sure they will spark old memories . Thanks again .
#4 by CrabbyMilton on February 21, 2020 - 6:23 AM
That’s a very wonderful story about your Grandpa. You said his days are limited. True, but all of our days are limited so we need to be grateful for the days our Lord gives us. Allow me to express my belated condolences at the loss of your Grandma. May the Lord Jesus Christ be with you and your family and praying that your Grandpa has more years of good health.
#5 by RickM on February 20, 2020 - 10:46 PM
Bob- contact Ret Assist Fire Chief Rick M at CiceroFD1@att.net
#6 by RickM on February 20, 2020 - 10:40 PM
Bob, I knew your grandfather Joey and Joe worked with my brother. My brother got on in 75 and he was my brothers chief. I rode with the guys at Morton Park thanks to your Grandfather. Larry retired as Fire Marshal about 8 years ago after a 37 year career. I retired as Assist Fire Chief in 2018 after 31.5 years. Joe was a great guy and funny too. When I was on the job i was the so called fire dept historian. Please contact me I would love to talk to you as I do still collect fire dept memorabilia from Cicero. Joe would definitely know Larry and me as a fire buff at Morton Park Great pictures
#7 by Chris on February 20, 2020 - 7:38 PM
Bob,
Why don’t you just contact the Cicero Fire Dept directly – they may NOT even be aware there still are former members in their nineties out in the world – there is a main contact number for the FD on Cicero website – somebody should be able to point you in right direction for whatever you wish to do
#8 by Eric Haak on February 20, 2020 - 7:03 PM
Happy birthday Joe! Thanks for your service in so many ways. And thank you Bob for sharing the great local history! Awesome stuff to see. Never knew that there was a Chicago Nipple Company! Can’t beat that.