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| Pasquale "Pete the Pepper" DiBenedetto |
Englishtown Fire Department
August 4 at 11:48 AM ·
***DEATH NOTIFICATION***
On Tuesday, July 31, 2018 Chief Engineer/Firefighter Pasquale “Pete the Pepper” DiBenedetto suffered a medical emergency which ultimately resulted in his death on Thursday, August 2, 2018.
The medical emergency occurred hours after the department responded to an alarm system investigation, in which Pasquale responded. As a result, the New Jersey Division of Fire Safety has declared the death of Chief Engineer/Firefighter DiBenedetto as a Line of Duty Death.
Arrangements are as follows:
Wake Services:
Monday, August 6th, 2018 between the hours of 4pm and 9pm at the Lester Memorial Home in Jamesburg, NJ.
Funeral Services:
Tuesday, August 7th 2018 starting at 10 am at the Our Lady of Mercy Church in Englishtown, NJ. The funeral services will be preceded by a Fire Department Procession from the Lester Memorial Home to Our Lady of Mercy Church. Following funeral services a repass will be held at the Englishtown Fire Department.
Any emergency service agencies which plan on paying respect are requested to contact Department Chief Lou Sarti via email at 1266@EnglishtownFD.com
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New Jersey Division of Fire Safety has declared it a line-of-duty death because the medical emergency occurred within 24 hours of a call response.
Firefighters mourn 'big-hearted' colleague who had medical emergency hours after call
August 4, 2018
By Rebecca Everett
reverett@njadvancemedia.com
For NJ.com
Englishtown Fire Chief Lou Sarti said the death of long-time firefighter Pasquale "Pete the Pepper" DiBenedetto on Thursday has left a big hole in the close-knit volunteer department in Monmouth County.
"It's a very big loss," Sarti said of the 47-year veteran of the department. "It's a hole I don't know if we'll be able to fill. We'll never have another Pepper."
DiBenedetto, 68, died after suffering a medical emergency Tuesday morning, hours after responding to a carbon monoxide alarm along with others in the department. Sarti said the New Jersey Division of Fire Safety has declared it a line-of-duty death because the medical emergency occurred within 24 hours of a call response.
He declined to give details about the medical episode, but said DiBenedetto passed away Thursday.
Sarti -- who has no idea how DeBenedetto came by the quirky nickname -- described his late colleague as a big-hearted, selfless man who helped all the younger firefighters, and anyone else who needed it.
"He was like everyone's uncle," he said.
DeBenedetto was the department's chief engineer, which means he took care of repairs and maintenance of the fire trucks and other equipment.
"He was here every day," Sarti said. "He ran a farm, he did car repairs for friends, and he still made time to come to the fire station to respond to calls and take care of the apparatus."
After calls, he liked to hang out and joke around with his good friends at the department.
"We busted his chops because he was such a nice guy," Sarti said.
DeBenedetto is survived by a sister and an uncle.
A wake will be held Monday from 4 to 10 p.m. at Lester Memorial Home in Jamesburg and a funeral service at Our Lady of Mercy Church in Englishtown Tuesday at 10 a.m. A funeral reception will follow at the Englishtown Fire Department.
DeBenedetto will be honored with a fire department procession from Lester Memorial Home to his funeral service.
Any emergency service agencies that plan to participate are asked to notify Sarti at 1266@EnglishtownFD.com.