Harold J. "Whitey" Swartz 1936 to 2017

Swartz, Harold J. "Whitey", - 80, of Galloway, passed away peacefully on March 2, 2017, with his family at his side. A lifetime resident of Atlantic County, he was born in Pleasantville, the only son of John C. and Edith M. (Sheppard) Swartz and was educated in the Pleasantville public school system.

He served in the U.S. Army and joined the Pleasantville Volunteer Fire Department in 1958 and became a full time firefighter 2 years later. In 1959 he married his best friend and partner in everything he did, Joy Ann (Simpkins) Swartz. They have 3 sons, Robert, John and Harold Jr. Whitey became a legend in his own time, serving the Atlantic County community and Firefighting service for 56 years. He rose to the rank of Deputy Chief in Pleasantville after 31 years, served as Atlantic County Fire Marshall for 25 more.

He held many offices and positions including Atlantic County Fire Coordinator (1989-2005), N.J State Consumer Product Safety Commission Investigator and Director of the Anthony "Tony" Canale Fire Training Center. Whitey was an avid photographer providing pictures to local law enforcement, legal firms as well as shooting weddings and local school graduations. When he didn't have on a fire helmet, he had a camera around his neckand sometimes both. Whitey had a love of history and along with Joy, he founded the Firefighter's Museum of Southern New Jersey- an extensive collection of both fire apparatus and memorabilia, open to the public. Everyone knew he was the guy with a firehouse next door. But his service to the community didn't stop there.

He established a large collection of model trains, displayed on a 13 x 40 foot platform in the basement of his Pleasantville home which thousands of school children came to see over the years. Whitey visited schools teaching fire prevention, talked to scouting groups at his museum and countless other acts of service to other, far too many to name here. It is however as a husband and father that he will be most greatly missed, He is truly one of a kind.

He is survived by his wife Joy Ann, sons Robert, John (Frank) and Harold Jr. (Laura), grandchildren Dana, Kim, Christopher, Michael, Maggie, Amanda, Ryan, Matt and Will, and great granddaughter Faith Hamilton.

Funeral services will be held on Saturday March 11, 2017 at the Church of St. Mark and All Saints 429 S. Pitney Rd., Galloway, NJ. The visitation will be held from 9 am 12 pm and the service will immediately follow. Arrangements have been entrusted to Wimberg Funeral Home, 211 E. Great Creek Road, Galloway 609-641-0001. For condolences or directions, please visit wimbergfuneralhome.com. In Lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to the St. Jude's Children's Hospital.

Last Updated Sunday, March 05 2017 @ 07:37 pm EST|7,591 Hits