John R. Jasper, Jr.
Marker located on SW Corner of Michigan and Arctic Avenues
Marker text:
1926-2001 |
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Additional information: John Jasper was one of the "Big Three" fire captains in Atlantic City, along with Pierre Hollingsworth and Marvin Beatty. He entered the fire department at a time when it, like many other aspects of Atlantic City government, was heavily politicized. So, when Jasper achieved the rank of captain, the significance of the event overwhelmed him with emotion. During his swearing-in ceremony, he was at times unable to repeat Mayor Usry's words. Hollingsworth described Jasper as a "quiet but decisive" leader, and his daughter remembers the devotion he had to his job. She said that he was always concerned with saving lives, and was once "despondent" for weeks after finding a body in a burned building of someone that he hadn't been able to save. In addition to his career as a fireman, Jasper also taught fire science classes at Atlantic Community College. Jasper spent his retirement years playing chess, following boxing, and giving advice to neighbors from his front porch. For more information, see these resources in the Atlantic City Free Public Library, Atlantic City Heritage Collections: |