JOSEPH J. "BG JOE" LESNIEWSKI was born in Camden on May 13, 1919 to Stella and Andrew Lesniewski. The Lesniewskis were living at 1156 Jackson Street when the 1918-1919 City Directory was compiled. By 1924 they had moved to Pennsylvania.

Joseph Lesniewski was working as a machinist and living in Pennsylvania when he enlisted in the United States Army Air Corps in Philadelphia on December 12, 1941.

Joseph Lesniewski came to Camden after Word War II, where he married Wanda Chomiczewksi, who lived and had grown up at 1440 Rose Street. He was appointed to the Camden Fire Department on December 30, 1950 and reported for duty on January 1, 1951 with Engine Company 7 at 1115 Kaighn Avenue. He stayed at Engine 7 until April of 1966 except for a three month long tour with Engine Company 8. Between April of 1966 and August of 1968 Joseph J. Lesniewski was transferred four times, to Ladder Company 1, Engine Company 2, 

Engine Company 11, and finally to Engine Company 10, from where he retired on January 1, 1981.

The 1956 New Jersey Bell Telephone directory shows Joseph J. Lesniewski living at 1100 Orchard Avenue in Camden. By 1959 the family had moved to 930 Atlantic Avenue, around the corner from St. Joseph's Roman Catholic Church. The Lesniewski family would reside there into the 1970s.

Joseph J. Lesniewski was still serving as a Fire Fighter in 1977. He was then living at 166 Linden Avenue in Oaklyn NJ. Before retirement he had seen his son, Joseph A. Lesniewski, join the department, on April 2, 1974. The younger Lesniewski had risen to the rank of Captain by 1997, the serving at Engine Company 11 on North 27th Street in Cramer Hill.

Last a resident of East Beechwood Avenue in Oaklyn NJ, Joseph J. Lesniewski passed away on May 9, 2008, survived by his wife Wanda, son Joseph A. Lesniewski and daughter Elaine Lesniewski Griffin.