East Windsor Honors Deceased Firefighter Genovese

A large crowd of emergency service workers and volunteers watched Tuesday evening as Carole Genovese accepted the 2011 Sylvia Weiss Senior Citizen Award for Outstanding Service as a Volunteer on behalf of her deceased husband, Joseph.

Even with extra chairs set up, the crowd overflowed from the large meeting room in the as Mayor Janice Mironov honored the 42-year charter member of the  who died in March.

“The tremendous commitment shown by Joe Genovese through his 42 years as an active volunteer firefighter and his many acts of personal kindness were highly valued by us all,” the mayor said.

“Joe visited the East Windsor Volunteer Fire Co. #1 virtually every day, whether he was responding to calls, checking on equipment, or attending drills or meetings. Joe was a real treasure to the fire service and to our community and set a marvelous example for people of all ages.”

In his 42 years in the company, Joseph Genovese held virtually every office, including the presidency. He twice received the honor of township Firefighter of the Year, first in 1981 and again in 2008. But Mayor Mironov said he is also remembered as a master repairman and a kind, caring person with a unique personality.

“He was particularly fond of taking new members under his wing and teaching them the basics,” she noted. “He could fix most things, and most of us have this image of him with that tool belt around him.”

Joseph Genovese also volunteered with the Mercer County Fire Police and the Mercer County Firemen’s Association, serving later in life as a fire police lieutenant.

“I really appreciate this,” said Carole Genovese. “It shows how much everyone in the township thought of Joe and respected him.”

Mayor Mironov said the posthumous award was somewhat unconventional for the township, but that it was justified because the award committee felt Genovese was an “excellent” candidate who was truly “dedicated to volunteerism.”

“He was a really good-hearted guy who took pleasure in helping out however he could,” she said. “He was certainly one of the finest examples we could identify of someone who merited the Sylvia Weiss Award.”