THE Public Servant of Hoboken: Firefighter Bill Bergin

“Firefighters are indispensable foot soldiers here at home.” -Chris Dodd

The bonding and binding are unique traits for the smoke jumpers that cook, live, eat and sleep under the same firehouse roof during numerous on and off shifts. Deep lasting friendships – a “brother and sister-hood” - result from the close alliance which separates their civic duty from other branches of service, so much so that if a fellow squad member moved to an apartment in Hoboken, you could rest assured who would be there assisting with the heavy lifting and moving – some volunteering the painting, plumbing and wall-papering.

In a city as densely populated as the Mile Square Town, with nearly 60,000 residents – this box type of a tiny town – the estimated 115 fire personnel with four operating houses, are critical to the safety and security of the city – especially in light of the recent high-rise condominium construction over the last 25 years.

Hoboken had two significant fires, one dating back to 1900 on the piers when an estimated 400 people perished – a tragedy well-documented in many news publications throughout the county. Years later, a rash of fires occurred during the 1980s, drawing suspicion of arson to many as new condominium expansions were developing in Hoboken’s prime real estate, but no proof emerged. Lives were lost and firefighters fought bravely.

If we think of our foot soldiers of fire services, the one individual who rises front and center is the late Deputy Chief Bill Bergin. From a youngster in downtown Jefferson Street, young William lived near the firehouse on Second and Jefferson Streets. His crazed and fun hobby was to ride his red bike, chasing fire trucks when the bells rang. Billy caught the fever!

Mr. Bergin’s young career path took off from School # 9 (Connors School) through Demarest High where his football ability caught the attention of Villanova and Wagner Colleges, which at the time, were trying to build a football program. He secured a scholarship from both, but he chose Wagner. A broken arm curtailed his college football career, even while keeping his scholarship. But a strong yearning for a changing pathway emerged, sending him to Hoboken as a firefighter. Even that sharp turn in his life only occurred after he enlisted in military service, spending three years in the army.

After leaving the Army, he started his firefighting voyage in the 1960s, moving up the ranks to Captain, Battalion Chief, President of the International Fire Officer Union, and Public Safety Director. What can be said when a career and a person come together? Perhaps, the Irish rock group U2 sang it best- “It’s a Beautiful Day!” Bill never let it get away.

Squeezed into his full life, Mr. Bergin found some down time at the Jersey Shore with the Radigan family in Keansburg, meeting a girl, Marge, who eventually became his wife. Amazingly, Bill also found the time to fit in a stint playing semi-pro football with the Jersey Giants!

Former Battalion Chief, Steve Manzetti, referring to himself as a firefighter grunt, gave Bill Bergin a credit, echoed by retired Fire Marshall Jack Murphy (the son of a fire Captain), “Preparation and devotion became second nature to Bill’s will, so much so, that his vision and relentless work led to the creation of the Fire Department Museum on 213 Bloomfield Street.”

From playing outstanding football, a family of sports’ stars, the Jersey Shore, scholarships to colleges, even refereeing football games, his Army service, and his fire house history, Mr. Bergin certainly stands out among the Old Guard including the Lisa and Wendelken families, all of whom should not be lost in a forgetful vacuum of memories.

Bill, former Battalion Chief and Public Safety Director, died in December 2019 at the age of 80.

While Monroe Street’s Frank Sinatra gave VOICE to music, let us not wrestle with the fatigue of thought that Mr. Bergin gave VOICE to Hoboken Fire Fighting history, with bagpipes and the vision of Bill not sliding down the legendary fire pole fixture, but ascending upward!