Remembering a Great Photographer and Newsman
John Mongillo, Jr.
(1947 - 2011)
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| John Mongillo, Jr - HHS '65 |
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| Just one of many HFD action images captured by John Mongillo, Jr., who discovered this blaze at Reilly's Restaurant on Christmas morning 1964. CLICK on this photo to view more Mongillo photos. |
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Noted photographer and Hamden native, John Mongillo, Jr., passed away this past week.
Some of the most memorable Hamden Fire Department photos of the past 50 years were
shot by John, who started out as an assistant to his father, the late
John Mongillo, Sr.
The HFRA extends condolences to the Mongillo family.
Posted 10/21/11
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In addition to being a veteran photographer, John Mongillo, Jr. was also a reporter for The New Haven Register. John was one of several reporters who covered a devastating apartment building explosion thirty-four years ago this week in Whitneyville. Check it out below.
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Apartment Explosion
1181 Whitney Avenue
Tuesday, October 18, 1977
Off-duty Hamden firefighter Ralph Tomaselli was working his part-time job at Stone's Sunoco station at Whitney and Auger when a gas-fed explosion destroyed an
apartment building right across the street at 1181 Whitney Avenue. Ralph, along with fellow employee Wolfram Kaminskas
and by-stander Gary Jones, immediately rushed into the burning debris in an attempt to rescue two elderly victims. CLICK on The New Haven Register article below for the story. Posted 10/21/11
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| CLICK to enlarge for easier reading. |
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Firefighter Ralph Tomaselli and Civilians Recognized for Heroic Efforts Following Blast
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| Annual Dinner at the Hamden Elks' Lodge, April 6, 1978 - Hamden Firefighters' Association president Bob Slater presents the 1978 Alfred Ramelli Award to Firefighter Ralph Tomaselli. L-R: Craig Reynolds, Rev. Owen Sanderson, Pres. Slater, Wolfram Kominskas, Ff. Tomaselli, and Bob Stone. On October 18, 1977, Ff. Tomaselli, who was off duty, and the civilians pictured here were at the scene within seconds to search for and assist victims following an apartment building explosion at 1181 Whitney Avenue. |
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John Mongillo, Jr.
(1947-2011)
Some of His Memorable HFD Photos
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| Reilly Restaurant - December 25, 1964 - CLICK for the story and more photos |
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| Fleming Co. - January 12, 1968 - CLICK for the story and more photos |
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Apartment Explosion
1181 Whitney Avenue
Tuesday, October 18, 1977
Off-duty Hamden firefighter Ralph Tomaselli was working his part-time job at Stone's Sunoco station at Whitney and Auger when a gas-fed explosion destroyed an
apartment building right across the street at 1181 Whitney Avenue. Ralph, along with fellow employee Wolfram Kaminskas
and by-stander Gary Jones, immediately rushed into the burning debris in an attempt to rescue two elderly victims. CLICK on The New Haven Register article below for the story. Posted 10/21/11
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| 110 Webb Street - April 20-21, 1969 - CLICK for the story and more photos |
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| Hamden police and firefighters were featured in this dramatic photo of a mid-winter water rescue that was published in LIFE magazine in February 1972. Four of the Hamden firefighters are identified as Robert Viglione, Edward Charbonneau, Gerry Wolf and Walter Macdowall, who were all assigned to Station 4 on Platoon 2. - CLICK for larger image - (Photo by John Mongillo, Jr, originally published in The New Haven Register.) - © 1972 - Time, Inc. |
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| Tech Plywood, 1047 Dixwell Avenue - October 18, 1972 - CLICK for the story and more photos |
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| French-Italian Fire - January 24, 1985 - CLICK for the story and more photos |
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