Fallen firefighters memorial, Nutley, New Jersey

Nutley Fire Department Fallen Firefighters Memorial

Dedication: Monday, May 28, 2018

Memorial Day

Nutley Fire Department Headquarters

228 Chestnut Street

Nutley, NJ 07110

Thomas 'Hickey' Woodruff

Thomas Woodruff was a career Nutley firefighter from 1931 to 1938. On February 11, 1938, Woodruff fell off a six-foot ladder at headquarters while attempting to change a light bulb. He was taken to St. Mary's Hospital in Passaic, where he was pronounced dead.

In his younger years, Woodruff was known as a great baseball player. He received the nickname "Hickey" because of his fondness for establishing hickory nut hunts. Married to Mary Webster Woodruff, they had two children, Thomas Jr. and Nancy.

Capt. Frank C. Zimmermann

Capt. Frank Zimmermann was a career Nutley firefighter from 1923 to 1939. He suffered a coronary embolism while upstairs in the department's dormitory. He passed away on duty on September 13, 1939.

Zimmermann was the first career member of the department. In February 1929, he was promoted to captain.

As a hobby, Zimmermann often repaired broken toys for the town's less fortunate children, especially around Christmas time. He was survived by his wife Mae Owens Zimmerman.

Andrew H. Miller

Andrew Miller was a career Nutley firefighter from 1929 to 1941.

The department responded to 66 Elm Place on the report of a working fire November 8, 1941. Miller entered the basement by himself to suppress the fire but he slipped going down the stairs, breaking his neck and fracturing his skull. In an attempt to rescue Miller, Captain Earl Manning entered the basement, but he, too, slipped, breaking his ankle. However, the captain continued to search for Miller and was ultimately able to carry him out. After 30 minutes of police and EMS attempting to resuscitate Miller, he was transported to St. Mary's Hospital in Passaic. He was pronounced dead at 5:10 p.m.

He was survived by his wife Anna May Miller and a three-year-old son.

Edward Stroba

Edward Stroba was a career Nutley firefighter from 1924 to 1942. He became a widower after the passing of his wife, Virginia Sequin.

On the evening of December 19, 1942, just days before he was to announce his engagement to his girlfriend Katherine Stegner, a fire broke out in her home at 75 William Street. Stroba tried fighting the fire himself but he was quickly overcome by the smoke. Outside of the home, he was given emergency medical treatment by the Chief of Police and several other men. Shortly after, the town physician had Stroba transported to to the hospital where he was pronounced dead from smoke suffocation.

As a child, Stroba's hobbies included running and fishing.