Theodore
Primas


THEODORE PRIMAS was born in Camden, New Jersey on December 27, 1924 to Edward and Hallie Primas. 

By April of 1930 the Primas family, which included sisters Pauline, Gladys and Garnet and brothers Melvin and Edward Emmet were living at at 2823 Mitchell Street in East Camden. The family was still there in the early 1940s. 

Theodore Primas graduated from Camden High School, a member of the class of June 1942, He played baseball with the Dunbar Athletic Club, which sponsored one of the premier amateur teams in Camden in the late 1930s and 1940s. One of his teammates was Jerome "Babe" Carpenter. Both men went into the Army, Carpenter in September of 1942, Theodore Primas on July 31, 1943. Sadly, Jerome Carpenter was killed in a training accident in September of 1943. Theodore Primas was promoted to the rank of Sergeant during his time in the Army. After leaving the Army, he returned to Camden.

Theodore Primas was appointed to the Camden Fire Department on March 5, 1947. He was promoted to Captain on April 1, 1956, and to District Chief on January 31, 1961. On January 1, 1973 Theodore Primas was promoted to the rank of Acting Chief of the Camden Fire Department. He was made permanent on July 1, 1978.

Chief Primas retired on April 1, 1981. His nephew, Melvin "Randy" Primas, was appointed Mayor of Camden by City Council shortly afterwards when Angelo Errichetti resigned in the wake of a bribery conviction.

Last a resident of Cherry Hill, New Jersey, Theodore Primas passed away on April 11, 1999. He was buried at Sunset Memorial Park in Pennsauken, New Jersey.


 

 

 

Camden Courier-Post
July 5, 1941

 

 

 

 

 

Jerome Carpenter - Theodore Primas


Camden Courier-Post
July 23, 1941

Jerome Carpenter - Theodore Primas


Camden Courier-Post * May 15, 1942

Jerome Carpenter - Theodore Primas


 


 


December 18, 1961

District Chief Primas
&
unidentified firefighter
at
Bender Brothers factory
"Manufacturers of Cotton Batting"
250 Atlantic Avenue


Camden Courier-Post * October 5, 1966

Photo by Bob Bartosz

KNEELING to hold hose in place, firemen backed off, a moment later as rear of vacant building at 1729 Railroad Avenue caved in during three alarm blaze yesterday. Two persons were hurt. Probe of faulty fire hydrants has been asked.

From Left: Captain Joseph Wolfinger, Albert Jones, William O'Dennis

Railroad Avenue
Angelo Errichetti
Edward V. Michalak
Philip A. Stinger
Theodore Primas
Albert Jones
Kenwood Avenue
Ladder Company 2
Thomas Robinson
Engine Company 8

 

 

Camden Courier-Post * March 8, 1967

...continued...

Left: SEA OF SMOKE engulfs firemen manning hoseline high above general alarm blaze in S. Broadway warehouse. But he's on an aerial ladder, not floating on a space platform.

Below: DENSE SMOKE from flame-swept warehouse on S. Broadway hinders fireman in general alarm blaze last night.













...continued...
...continued...
...continued...
Anthony Corradetti - Broadway - Line Street - Louis Iatarola - Carolyn Iatarola - Lena Iatorola
John Luciani - Richard Hailey -
Thomas Penn - Theodore Primas - Edward V. Michalak
Angelo Errichetti - Anthony Saponare - Williams Street

Camden Courier-Post * April 4, 1970
...continued...
Robert Troutman - Engine Company 6 - James McGrory - Engine Company 2 - Theodore Primas - Inez Brown - Stanley Brown
Blair Murphy - Dorothy Lyles - James Lyles - John M. Lyles -
Fern Street - North 9th Street

November 5, 1973


RAILROAD AVENUE
Spring of 1974

From Left: Unknown - Earl Robinson
Unknown - Theodore Primas

 

Camden Fire Department - FIRE WATCH MAGAZINE, SPRING 1977

IN RECOGNITION…..

ANNIVERSARY DATES: CONGRATULATIONS TO:

Fr. Howard G. Brickner #5           

 26 Years

Fr. Harvey J. Fisher #186

 26 Years

Capt. James W. Smith 

26 Years

Dep. Chf. Anthony C. Saponare       

 35 Years 

Fr. Andrew H. Foreman #183

26 Years

Fr. William J. Stibi #120 

26 Years

 Batt. Chf. Robert E. Dukes   

 30 Years 

Fr. Henry S. Keubler #34 

26 Years

Fr. William M. Stone #29

26 Years

Insp. Fr. George C. Hennessy #21  

 30 Years 

Fr. Joseph J. Lesniewski #50

26 Years

Capt. William G. Winstanley

26 Years

Dep. Chf. Daniel F. Jiannetto 

30 Years 

Fr. Phillip MacDonald #7(1

26 Years

Fr. Adolph S. Zubrzycki #62

26 Years

Dep. Chf. Theodore L. Prima

30 Years 

Fr. Joseph J. McTaggart #26

26 Years

Batt. Chf. John J. Giuliano

21 Years

Fr. Eugene F. Alston #7 

 29 Years 

Batt. Chf. John J. Mogck

26 Years

Insp. Fr. Alfred D. Nigro #76

21 Years

Batt. Chf. Biaggio P. Ardire 

 29 Years 

Capt. John E. Moore 

26 Years

Fr. Leon Puszczykowski #100

21 Years

Fr. William R. Harring #69     

 29 Years  Capt. Robert P. Olesiewicz 26 Years

Fr. John L. Sterner #73 

21 Years

Fr. William E. Hinch #151       

 29 Years  Capt. Anthony T. Orme 26 Years

Fr. Francis P. Stibi #143 

21 Years

 Capt. Herbert J. Schott 

 28 Years  Fr. Ralph H. Palmer #46 26 Years Fr. Carl R. Szalkowski #95 21 Years

Batt. Chf. Charles A. Bates

 26 Years

Members as listed above, have anniversary dates which fall during the first quarter

 


1482 Kaighn Avenue

Camden Courier-Post
October 13, 1979

Iasia Ingram
Engine Company 7
Michael Galasso
Theodore Primas
Russell Chandler
Robert Van Istendal
Raymond McClintock

Camden Courier-Post
March 30, 1981

Theodore Primas
John J. Mogck Jr.
Angelo Errichetti
Joseph Timmons
Stewart Street
Agnes Shad
Riverview Towers
South 2nd Street
Mickle Street
William Ayers
Joseph Gfrorer
Ernest Newkirk
Adelbert Kirk Jr.
Francis Stibi

 


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