Community Corner
Beloved Roseland Firefighter Still Battling Blazes After 50 Years
For more than half a century, Frank Mazzocchi, 87, has donned the gear of a firefighter. And he's not stopping now.

ROSELAND, NJ — For more than half a century, Frank Mazzocchi has donned the gear of a firefighter. And he’s not stopping now.
On Tuesday, the Roseland Volunteer Fire Department offered an enthusiastic happy birthday greeting to its most senior member, who still “puts on the gear” and goes out on calls in a quest to serve his community.
Mazzocchi, 87, has served as a volunteer firefighter for more than 50 years, launching his blaze-battling career in the late 1960s, according to a department spokesperson.
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His peers at the RFD shared a photo of the tenacious firefighter on social media (see below). As seen in the photo, Mazzocchi was among five crews to respond to the scene of a “smoke condition” at a local home.
“As an aside, Frank is one of the most beloved members of the fire department,” Lt. Barry Bachenheimer told Patch, praising his contributions over the years.
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Judging by the dozens of comments left on the RFD’s post, Bachenheimer isn’t the only one who is glad Mazzocchi is still battling blazes in Roseland.
“The true heart and soul of the RFD,” a well-wisher wrote. “Happy birthday, Murph!”
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