Joseph W. Bukowski, Past President (1998) died suddenly at his winter home in Clearwater Florida on Thursday February 18, 2010. He was 57. Joe joined the CVVFA in 1979 as one of the original group of members from the Aetna Hose, Hook and Ladder Company of Newark DE who joined the CVVFA that year. Joe was a retired teacher having spent most of his career teaching history in the Cecil County MD school system.
At Aetna where he was a life member, Joe served as a firefighter EMT in his early years and later as a fire police officer. He served as Financial Secretary of the company until he moved to Florida during the winter months.
In Delaware Joe served as President of the New Castle County Fire Police Association and later was elected President of the Delaware State Fire Police Association.
At the time of his death Joe was the Chief Financial Officer of the CVVFA Emergency Responder Safety Institute. Joe served as President of the CVVFA in 1998 and was a Life Member at the time of his death. He was instrumental in establishing the J.R. Haines and the Kenny Butts Memorial Scholarships for the CVVFA that provides assistance for worthy students entering the public safety field.
Joe’s wife Karen, daughter Amanda, one grandson and his father survive him.
A celebration of Joe's life was held at Aetna Hall in Newark DE. Joe left instructions that he wanted a party not a funeral so his family honored him in a place where he put many hours of work as Bingo Chairman for Aetna and enjoyed leisure time at social functions.
 
Over 200 of Joe’s friends  attended many dressed in Joe‘s trademark, an Hawaiian shirt.