Fire Rescue News- Mourners recall Hammonton teen who died in crash as 'selfless' friend and firefighter

Posted: Thursday, February 16, 2012 9:37 pm | Updated: 12:55 am, Fri Feb 17, 2012.

By LEE PROCIDA Staff WriterpressofAtlanticCity.com 

Underneath it were a crowd of Gulig’s friends from Hammonton High School, where the teen played trumpet in the band.

Alma Albarran, 15, of Hammonton, said she grew up with Gulig and they played in the band together. She said he was always willing to help, and called him “selfless.”

Alison Collins, 17, also of Hammonton, agreed. “He always put others’ problems first,” she said.

That was a common description of Gulig.

“He was one of the most reliable friends anybody can have,” said Jordan Berketo, 18, of Hammonton, who was a friend since middle school. “That’s why so many people showed up tonight.”

Gulig was born in Galloway Township but lived his entire life in Hammonton. He died after his pickup truck slid on a patch of ice directly into a telephone pole Sunday night on 13th Street, the same road he lived on with his father, David Sr., mother, Stacy, and sister, Amanda.

Gulig attended Hammonton High School until the end of his junior year, after which he decided to pursue a vocation in machinery. At that point he had already been training as an apprentice at Precision Tech LLC, in Hammonton, making parts for a number of uses and industries.

The high school held a moment of silence for Gulig on Tuesday, and Superintendent Dan Blachford said many students and teachers were deeply upset after news spread of Gulig’s death on Monday.

“No matter what you say about him, it is really not enough to reflect the good person he was,” Blachford said.

Berketo said Gulig had been extremely busy lately. He worked full time at Precision Tech, and the time he wasn’t there he devoted to his girlfriend, his family and the fire department.

“He was still trying to balance everybody and everything else,”he said. “That made him as great a person as he was.”

The Gulig family has asked that all donations be made to the fire department in lieu of flowers, and Blachford said students had started collecting money at school.

Berketo said there was also talk about putting together a memorial service for him during this year’s graduation. He said it would only be right given all Gulig did for others.

“It showed with him being a volunteer firefighter,” he said. “He was always taking care of people, one way or another.”

In lieu of flowers, the Gulig family asks that memorial donations be sent to the Hammonton Independent Volunteer Fire Company No. 2, PO Box 281 Hammonton, NJ. 08037.

Contact Lee Procida:  609-272-7227  LProcida@pressofac.com