Since then he has seen, and in many ways helped shape, the changes that make the East Haven Fire department what it is today.

“I'd put this fire department second to none,” he says.

Joe “Pitch” joined the fire department at a time of rapid expansion for the town. Route 80 was still mostly farmland, he says, but would soon begin to change. The town's need for fire protection was growing with it.

“When I joined here in 1964 there were only two career men on duty, and it was Monday through Friday, from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. The rest of the time it was manned by volunteers,” he remembers.

“I remember those nights–two or three o'clock in the morning, getting up and driving in on a call, the windows fogging up in the winter,” he says.

“My first assignment as a volunteer was to raise money for the first fire rescue truck in Foxon,” says Joe. “Myself and two other committee members ran a raffle, and we purchased a 1968 Chevy panel truck.”

At the time, it cost $11,000, fully equipped. Today, it's a little different.

“We have a rescue truck here that was purchased a couple of years ago, solely by the volunteers. That cost about $85,000,” he says.

As a volunteer himself, he knows the importance of their role.

“We really can't do it without them,” he says. “They're a big asset to the town and they're really dedicated.”

Joe was elected president of the volunteers for several years, all the while holding down a full time job as a tractor-trailer driver.

“In 1984, because of my affiliation with Teamsters Local 443, I was able to get them to donate the first 'jaws of life' tool to the town, and also two sets of air bags that can lift up a rolled-over car. They are capable of lifting four to five tons.”

Mayor Bob Norman first appointed Joe to the Fire Commission. He served on it until 1991, and then was reappointed in 1995 by Mayor Maturo. Since 1996, he's been the chairman and has overseen many of the changes designed to better protect the public and the firefighters themselves.

“In 1988 we put on four full-time dispatchers and started up the 911 program, with the first around-the-clock EMTs,” he said. “In 2003 we hired the first paramedics. Today we have eight certified paramedics in the fire department.”

Another safety breakthrough was the installation of the reverse-911 system. With it, the fire department can phone a large area of residents to alert them to emergency situations.

“We were one of the first towns to have that,” he says.

Joe was also chairman when the commission appointed Eileen Parlato the first female battalion chief.

“I was pretty proud of that, that we had the first female battalion chief. Eileen does a fantastic job, and she's well liked,” he says.

“In 40 years, firefighting has changed. Years ago, you didn't even wear an airpack to a fire. Today you can't do that–with all the chemicals, you just don't know what's burning. Years ago we had drills, but now you have to be certified for everything. There's a lot of schooling involved to keep them safe.”

Joe's retired now from the trucking job, but still serves as chair of the commission. He spends as much time as he can with his wife Linda, who is still working. It's not always easy to be married to a firefighter, especially during those years with late night calls away from family, but Joe says Linda took it all in stride.

“Well, we've been married 37 years, so there must be something there,” he says with a laugh.

He keeps in shape by going to the gym and walking up to 16 miles a day. He also spends time with son Chris, who is a sportswriter for the Courier.

“Tonight we're going to watch the fights at Mohegan,” he notes.

“So my life is really between my family and the fire department,” he says.