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Jewish Finest and Bravest

We do not often associate Jews as being policemen or firemen but our area in the past had a good representation of Jews who filled the ranks of the “Finest and Bravest. Pictured below are photos of a few who served as our “Finest and Bravest.” 

Paterson New Jersey, Testimonial Dinner Fire Chief James J. Troy, Mayor William P. Furrey, Publisher of The News Harry B. HainesFire Commissioner Jack Stern, Police and Fire Commissioner of Paterson Doris B. Stern

That's Commissioner Jack Stern, standing in the center of the above image. Among his many life-time active roles and titles (President of the YM/YWHA; President of Barnert Hospital, President of the Jewish Community Center, General Vice-Chairman of the Red Cross War Fund Drive; Governor appointee to the N.J. Commission on Civil Rights) he served as both Paterson’s Police and Fire Commissioner. Below he is pictured receiving an honorary life membership by the Firemen’s Mutual Benevolent Association. His wife, Doris B. Stern, was at one time also the Police and Fire Commissioner of Paterson.

North Jersey District Water Supply Commissioner Stanley Levine, New Jersey

Commissioner Stanley Levine, another active community leader, also served as both Paterson’s Police and Fire Commissioner. He later became the North Jersey District Water Supply Commissioner. Above he is pictured with holdover Police and Fire Commissioner Doris B. Stern.

Roberty "Bob" Reines, Peekskill Military Academy, Bonnie Tuber

Pictured on the left is Fire Chief Solomon Reines. He served as Petty Officer 2/c in the US Navy from Dec. 1943 through Dec. 1945. He joined the Paterson Fire Dept. in June 1942 and worked his way up to Fire Chief. He retired in Feb. 1981. For many years it was his job to investigate suspicious fires in Paterson. His son Robert("Bob") Reines, pictured on the right in his Peekskill Military Academy uniform with Bonnie Tuber, later became a career Paterson police officer.

Paterson New Jersey Fire Dept, Bn Chief Solomon Reines, Police-Fire Commission Clerk Lester F. Titus, Jr., Rabbi Reuben Kaufman, Undersheriff Isadore J. Zabotinsky, Police-Fire Commissioner Doris Stern, Mayor's Secretary Louis Infald, Chaplain New York Fire Dept Rabbi Edward Lissman, Fire Commissioner Stanley M. Levine, Fire Chief G. Hobart Strathearn

Officials of the Paterson Fire Dept. shown at the first annual Shomrim breakfast held at Temple Beth-El (see caption for identifications)

Paterson New Jersey "5 Caps and a Bottle" band, Meyer Cohen, Joe Nardella, Sal Madama, Thomas Schofield, Ray Thompson, Louis Rotella, 1951 F.M.B.R., Local No. 2

Meyer Cohen became a Paterson fireman on Feb. 16, 1929, and moved up to the rank of Captain in Oct. 1948. Top photos show him in his fireman’s uniform. In the bottom photo he is shown as a member of the “5 Caps and a Bottle” band.

Paterson New Jersey policemen, Pete La Conti, Harry "Yale" Guon, News-PBA Diamond Gloves boxing

Harry Guon, a US Army veteran of WWll was born Dec.13, 1915. In the left photo he’s pictured in his Army uniform. Guon was also a Diamond Gloves champion. In the right photo he strikes a pose with fellow patrolman Pete La Conti.