MULLICA TOWNSHIP - Gary Pieper couldn't care less about leisure suits and early-bird dinners.
When the 63-year-old retired from his job as a union sheet-metal worker after 42 years, he chose to forgo the stereotypical retirement and opted, instead, to start running into fires.
Pieper, a grandfather of four, wanted to be a firefighter.
"I was a member of a company in North Jersey for a short time in the 1970s, until I moved down here and got busy with work," Pieper said. "But I think it's something that never leaves you. It stays in your blood."
Not only did Pieper make it through the fire academy - where he was old enough to be some of his classmates' grandfather - he was recently honored for finishing at the top of his class.
Before any of that could happen, Pieper had to convince his family and Sweetwater Fire Company Chief Gary Franklin that he could handle the physical demands of firefighting.
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4 comments:
A revealing part of the story is that 63-year-old Pieper is one of the department's youngest members and that Franklin was concerned that he could handle the physical demands of firefighting. It makes on wonder if the other members are up to the task.
Congratulations to Gary Pieper for his accomplishments. It is inspiring to see someone come out to help the community regardless of their age.
Re 10:40, I had no idea that at 63 years old, he is the "baby" of the Sweetwater Fire Dept. as alot of the guys are "let's just say,'mature'".
Maybe Franklin should start recruiting some young guys now before we lose that Dept. under his leadership in the future.
Re 10:40am
I know that the Elwood Fire Dept has alot of young,strong,fine men.
Thats why Elwood fights most of the fires.
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