Fire Apparatus and Emergency Equipment founder and publisher, C. Peter Jørgensen, died of cancer at 10:00 p.m. on September 25, 2009 at his home in Tunbridge, Vermont. His wife Kay was by his side. He was 68.
Pete Jørgensen started the high-glossy, tabloid-sized national fire service industry publication in 1996, which garnered a list of well-known columnists like Bob Barraclough, Robert Tutterow, Ed Ballam, Richard Marinucci, and Raul Angulo.
Pete grew up in Arlington, Massachusetts, where he joined the auxiliary fire department when he was 18. While in college, he, along with colleagues, ran a Boston news photo agency that supplied fire and emergency services photos to wire services and local newspapers. Pete, and his wife, Kathryn, a Boston University journalism master’s classmate, bought The Arlington Advocate in 1969. When they sold their company in 1986, they had six suburban weekly newspapers. He also published four Vermont and New Hampshire weeklies in the mid-1970s and The Commercial and Financial Chronicle in New York City, which he bought in 1973.
Pete earned an Associate in Arts degree, a Bachelor of Science and Master of Science degrees in Journalism from Boston University.
In 1986, Pete and Kay started Historical Publications, which now publishes The Artilleryman, a quarterly magazine he founded in 1978; Civil War News, a current events newspaper started in 1988; and Fire Apparatus and Emergency Equipment magazine.
He owned Firetec Apparatus Sales from 1996 to 2002 and served on the Fire and Emergency Manufacturers and Services Association board of directors from 1998 to 2001.
Pete Jørgensen was a firefighter and Emergency Medical Technician. As a dedicated first responder, he carried his own jump kit and AED (defibrillator) in the back of his personal vehicle. His preparedness paid off in May 2003 near Winchester, Virginia, when he successfully revived a man with his AED, who had suddenly collapsed from cardiac arrest.
Pete’s hobbies and interests included military history, especially the Civil War and World War II. Among his many collections, he collected books and art about the Civil War and World War II, Civil War artifacts, Mack fire trucks, cannons, John Deere tractors, and bamboo fly rods. He competed in carbine, musket, revolver, cannon and mortar events in the North-South Skirmish Association and was a Civil War re-enactor.
Seattle (WA) Fire Department Captain Raul Angulo of Ladder Co. 6 said he was grateful that Mr. Jørgensen recognized his work and gave him the opportunity to be a columnist for Fire Apparatus magazine. “He wanted to broaden the readership of the magazine by including training scenarios utilizing tools and techniques.” Angulo said, “I know the magazine is product-driven and Peter allowed a lot of liberty in my columns to mention tools and equipment by name. He also gave me a lot of freedom on a national platform to share my knowledge and experience with the American Fire Service. Pete was passionate about sharing knowledge and information with firefighters who actually use the apparatus, tools and equipment and I think he recognized we shared that same passion.”
Ed Ballam, who was the managing editor of Fire Apparatus and Emergency Equipment, worked for 12 years on Pete’s team. He started in 1997. When interviewed, Ballam said, “Pete had more passion for the fire service than just about anyone I know. But he was committed to public safety and public service. He also served as a deputy sheriff for Orange County, Vermont. Sheriff’s Department for many years. But his heart was really in fire and EMS.”
According to Ballam, “Pete made available fire equipment, tools, books and even fire apparatus. True! He generously provided a pumper truck to the Tunbridge Fire Department on a long term basis, free of charge, and helped to secure a used apparatus in good condition and at a good price when Tunbridge decided it was time to make a purchase.”
Ballam said, “Pete was a publisher who was not afraid to take chances or think outside the box. His editorials were well read and often stirred controversy in the fire service industry. He wasn’t afraid to call it like he saw it. But I think Pete wrote those editorials with a sincere intent to keep firefighter’s safe and provide them with the knowledge to help them do their jobs better. He wanted to share all his knowledge with firefighters who desired to learn more about their apparatus and equipment. The fire service has lost a strong voice and advocate.”
Peter is survived by his wife, Kathryn, of Tunbridge, a brother, a sister, and two nephews.
The funeral will be Saturday, October 3, 2009 at 12:00 p.m. at The Tunbridge Church followed by a committal service and party, both at his 234 Monarch Hill Road home in Tunbridge.
Memorial donations may be sent to:
The Tunbridge Public Library
PO Box 9
Tunbridge, VT. 05077
The Tunbridge Church
c/o Townsend Swayze
56 Swayze Road
Tunbridge, VT. 05077
The Civil War Preservation Trust
1331 H Street N.W. Suite 1001
Washington, D.C. 20005-4761
