James
T.
McGrory Jr.


JAMES T. McGRORY was born on July 25, 1927 to James T. and Marguerite McGrory. When the Census was taken in 1930 the family, which included younger siblings Doris and Joseph lived at 527 Fairview Street. The elder McGrory managed an American Stores grocery. The 1940 Camden City Directory shows the family at 4713 Lafayette Avenue in Pennsauken, New Jersey.

After serving with the United States Army during World War II James T. McGrory joined the Camden Fire Department in May of 1956. 

The 1959 New Jersey Bell Telephone Directory shows James T. McGrory Jr. at 432 Pfeiffer Street in East Camden. By October of 1969 he had moved to 111 Terrace Avenue. He was still living at that address as late as the fall of 1977.

James T. McGrory served with distinction for over 34 years before retiring on pension August 1, 1990 at the 

rank of Captain. He had served as Captain with Engine Company 11 in Cramer Hill in the early 1970s, and with Engine Company 9 in East Camden later in the decade.

After his retirement, James McGrory worked for the Pennsauken Country Club and at the Inglesby & Son Funeral Home. He was active in Masonic affairs, and was a member of the New Jersey Retired Police & Fire Association.

James T. McGrory was active for many years in the fund raising efforts of the Camden County Hero Scholarship Fund. He took part in the research that resulted in the Camden Fire Department 125th Anniversary book. He remained interested in the affairs of the Camden Fire Department, and was an attendee at the firefighter's reunion diner at The Pub in Pennsauken, New Jersey in August of 2009.

In later years James McGrory resided in Pennsauken, New Jersey. James McGrory passed away on November 9, 2009. He was survived by his wife, the former Thelma Anconetani, son James McGrory, and daughter Joan McGrory.

Camden Courier-Post * August 19, 1957

Firemen Here Get Advanced First Aid Course

More than 40 members of the Camden Fire Department have completed the Red Cross course in advanced first aid according to announcement today by Howard F. Keller, Collingswood, chairman of the Camden County Chapter's first aid committee. 

Instruction sessions were under the direction of Fire Chief William V. Pfefferle, Drillmaster Anthony Dzinski, a member of the local chapter first aid group, assisted by Nicholas E. George, were instructors. Dzinski is a member of the Red Cross faculty at the National Aquatic School held in this area each year for instruction in advance safety techniques. Dick Harris, director of Red Cross safety services, supervised.

All members of the graduating class are personnel of several units housed at fire department headquarters here. These include the Headquarters Company, Engine Company 2, Rescue Squad 1 and Truck Company 1. These groups include: 

Rescue Squad: Captains Arthur Batten, Philip A. Stinger and Albert Weller; Edward Brendlinger, Harrison MacNeir, Robert Olesiewicz and James W. Smith.

Headquarters Company: Raymond Banford, John K. Voll and John W. Yates.

Truck Company 1: Captains Daniel Jiannetto, Robert E. Dukes and Otto V. Kaiser; William Watkin, Chester Gedrich, George Baxter, John Mogck, George C. Hennessy, Charles Devlin, Ambrose W. Faust, Joseph McTaggart, Howard R. Taggart, William G. Winstanley and Elmer Johnson Jr.

Engine Company 2: Captains James R. Asher, Thomas Winstanley; Carl Wirtz, James McGrory, Edwin V. Decker, James Stewart, Francis X. McTaggart, Anthony T. Orme, Mario D. Fattore, James O. Jones, Francis P. Stibi, William Hopkins, Robert E. Briggs, John Giuliano, Casper Martelli, Harold H. Pike, John J. Vane, William Stibi, John DiMaggio and Harry Kleinfelder.

In front of Fire Headquarters, North 5th and Arch Streets, 1958
Firemen Raymond Banford, James McGrory, James Stewart, Chester Gedrich

Click on Image to Enlarge


 July 18, 1960- An industrial accident with a fatality, at the Cooper River at Baird Avenue. A Front end loader flipped off embankment pinning the operator underwater. 

In the foreground without shirt: Battalion Chief William Deitz, 2nd Battalion, who first arrived at scene and attempted rescue of operator. Members of Rescue Company 1 are Fireman Edward Brendlinger (kneeling on the machine's wheel) and Firemen John Mogck Jr. and James McGrory in the boat. Battalion Chief Deitz would later be killed in the line of duty and Fireman John Mogck would become Chief of Department.


Camden Courier-Post * September 26, 1964

Edward R. MacDowell - Edward V. Michalak - James T. McGrory - Joseph Wolfinger
Charles Christenson -  James Young - Terrace Avenue - Fountain Avenue - Atlanta Road
Engine Company 2 - Engine Company 11 - Ladder Company 1


Camden Courier-Post * February 5, 1966

SHROUD-COVERED body of one of three biys who died in row house fire on Mechanic Street near 4th Street is carried out by firemen while neighbors look on from nearby porch.

...continued...
...continued...
...continued...
Mechanic Street
Edward V. Michalak
George P. Baxter
Thomas Carter Ratcliffe
Randy Smith
Robert Smith
Emilene Green
Edward sharp
Philip Bocelli
James Snyder
James Green
Shirley Ratcliffe
George Pugh
Emma Lou Ratcliffe
Patricia Smith
William Roane
Benjamin Walters
William Kamman
William Stibi Jr.
John Dimaggio
James T. McGrory
Ladder Company 2
Rescue Company 1
Engine Company 3

 

CAMDEN POLICE lead woman tentatively identified as grandmother of three children killed in fire away from scene of tragedy

ABOVE, LEFT: SMOKE SWIRLS around fireman as he leans from second-floor window of row house on Mechanic Street near 4th where three small boys perished in blaze


Camden Courier-Post * April 4, 1970
...continued...
Robert Troutman - Engine Company 6 - James McGrory - Engine Company 2 - Theodore Primas - Inez Brown - Stanley Brown
Blair Murphy - Dorothy Lyles - James Lyles - John M. Lyles -
Fern Street - North 9th Street

Camden Courier-Post - November 30, 1970

State Street - Robert K. Troutman - James T. McGrory - Joseph Bocco
Minnie Hall - Thomas Hall - Rosemary Miles - James Miles - Louise Venney


Camden Courier-Post - May 6, 1971

North 41st Street - State Street - Robert K. Troutman - James T. McGrory - Edward V. Michalak


 July 4, 1974- Captain Jim McGrory of Engine Company 11 removes the body of a child killed when an occupied house was fire-bombed at 600 Elm Street. The fore spread to nine adjoining properties and left 50 people homeless.


 July 1, 1980- Captain Jim McGrory of Engine Company 11 and crew packing hose after a one alarm house fire at North 35th Street and Harrison Avenue.


Camden Courier-Post * August 31, 1981

William Dukes - James McGrory


Camden Fire Department Reunion Dinner - August 26, 2009

John DiMaggio, Bob Bartosz, Jim McGrory


Camden Courier-Post - November 11, 2009

McGRORY, James T., Jr. 

On Nov. 9, 2009, age 82, of Pennsauken NJ. Beloved husband of Thelma (nee Anconetani) and dear father of James (Kim) McGrory of Lumberton and Joan McGrory of Cherry Hill. Dear brother of Doris (Blair) Hutton of Pennsauken. Jimmy was a retired Camden Firefighter, member of the Merchantville Lodge No. 119 F. & A.M., Crescent Temple Shrine, Royal Order of Jesters Crescent Court 64, Excelsior Consistory, NJ Retired Police & Fire Assoc., Camden Co. Hero Scholarship, WW II Army Veteran, former employee of Pennsauken Country Club & Inglesby & Sons Funeral Home. Relatives and friends of the family are kindly invited to attend his Visitation Friday 6-9 PM (Firefighters Service 8 PM) & Saturday 9-10:30 AM (Masonic Service 10 AM) at the FUNERAL HOME OF INGLESBY & SONS, 2426 Cove Road. Pennsauken NJ 08109. Funeral Service 10:30 AM. Ent. Harleigh Mausoleum. Donations to the Camden County Hero Scholarship Fund, 191 W. White Horse Pike, Berlin, NJ 08009 preferred. Info & guestbook @ www.inglesbyfuneralhome.com    

 

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