Joe Heller Immortalized In Essex

ESSEX, CT — Immortalizing a community resident who selflessly gave of himself, volunteered his time and talents and worked to make his town a better, safer place, the Essex Fire Engine Co#1 dedicated its new Metcraft Marine Fireband fireboat in honor of Joseph Heller, naming it the "Joseph H.".

A dedication and christening ceremony was held at the Essex town dock on Saturday, June 12.

"I think it is great that they named the boat after Joe Heller," said First Selectman Norm Needleman. "He was instrumental in the marine patrol in town and I think it was very appropriate to name the boat after him."

He added, "It was wonderful to see his two daughters get the opportunity to break the bottle on the boat for the christening and to have everyone there for the dedication."

"The “Joseph H.” will serve the town and region well into the foreseeable future," said Monique Heller, who wrote the memorable obituary about her father that made it into print around the world in 2019 and is now immortalized in the book, "Fast Funny Women". " My Dad was a selfless man, always volunteering his time to make Essex a better and safer place to live, visit and work. Whether it was as a town constable, volunteer in the fire department, establishing a volunteer ambulance organization, standing in for the crossing guard, plowing the roads at midnight or his favorite retirement endeavor - that of the “Dawg Kecher” - he did it all."

Joe Heller was a long-time member of the Essex Fire department and passed away in 2019. The boat was dedicated in his name because of his vast and intimate knowledge of the CT River and the hours of boat training that he provided to the fire department members.

Approximately 30 people attended the dedication event, including State Senator/Selectman Needleman, Selectman Bruce Glowac and Selectwoman Stacia R. Libby. Also in attendance were the Old Saybrook fire and police boats and Deep River fireboat as well as, the Essex Police Department and the CT State Police. In addition, Sea Tow sent two vessels to participate in the special dedication.

"It was an incredibly emotional day and I think my dad would have been really honored," said Monique.

The "Joseph H." fireboat had a total price tag of $377,000; 75 percent of that cost was covered by a Federal Grant and the remaining 25 percent or $92,000 was paid for by the Fire Department, from their capital fund. Designed and equipped as a regional resource to handle personnel and vessel emergencies on both the CT River and Long Island Sound, the boat has a very unique feature, which is its ability to supply high volumes of water to land-based fire apparatus in areas with no hydrants. The "Joseph H." replaced a nearly 30-year-old 25 foot Privateer workboat that the Fire Department was previously using.