Firefighter Honored For 70 Years Of Continuous Service

When John Ruit first joined the Wyckoff Volunteer Fire Department, Franklin D. Roosevelt was president.

Ruit was honored for his 70 yeas of continuous service to the township at a recent council meeting. A proclamation was read thanking Ruit for being “an inspiration to many volunteers,” and for “providing guidance and wisdom collected during his 70 years of volunteerism.”

“Volunteers don’t look for any type of recognition, we just do what we do,” said Ruit, a volunteer with the Sicomac Community Engine Company #3 Firehouse.

Ruit still attends Monday night drills, meetings, and, the proclamation states, “is willing to lend a helping hand.” He attends the company’s annual inspection and is part of the crew that polishes and cleans the firehouse’s vehicles.

Ruit is the longest serving volunteer firefighter in Wyckoff.

“Well, that’s what we do, we don’t quit,” Ruit said.

(Pictured, from left, are: Rudy Boonstra, deputy mayor; Tim Brock, assistant fire chief; Douglas Christie, township committeeman; John Ruit; Lou Graglia, chief, Wyckoff Volunteer Fire Department; Kevin Rooney, mayor; Haakon Jepsen, township committeeman; and Brian Scanlan, township committeeman.)