MARCUCCI

Posted by Cathy Gowdy on Saturday, June 04, 2011 at 06:29:24 :

Independent Journal
Wednesday, November 1, 1967
Page 1

Longtime Hub Fire Chief Marcucci Dies

Nello E. Marcucci, retired San Anselmo fire chief, died last night in his home at 160 San Francisco Boulevard, after a short illness. He was 69.

Marcucci was chief 33 years, retiring in 1963. He also served as civil defense fire coordinator for Marin and was San Anselmo’s street supervisor and building inspector.

Born in Italy, Marcucci came to San Francisco with his family when he was two. His father was a rancher, but Nello wanted to become a fireman.

Moving to San Anselmo in 1916, he joined the fire department a year later as a volunteer. He became assistant chief under Chief Charles Cartwright in 1923, and moved into the chief’s post seven years later when Cartwright became semi-retired.

At that time Marcucci was the only regular member of an otherwise volunteer department. He recently recalled working six months without a day off.

Marcucci significantly improved San Anselmo’s fire safety status in his first decade as chief. An eighth class community in 1930, according to fire underwriters, the city had earned a third class rating by about 1940 – the first community in northern California to be given this classification.

Also in his early days as chief, Marcucci built a fire alarm system with his volunteers and improved t he city’s hydrants. The chief had had early training as an electrician.

In his last years as chief, Marcucci fought - and won – a struggle for construction of a second firehouse at the western end of the city. The second firehouse is now located at Butterfield Road and Arroyo Avenue.

When Marcucci joined the department, it was equipped with only a wagon-pumper drawn by two horses. Today, the 18-man department, under Chief Frank Sousa, has six units.

Among the city’s firemen is Marcucci’s son, Marty. The eldest son, Robert, also a fireman, is a battalion chief in San Rafael.

Marcucci, an easy-mannered, craggy-faced man, left the department in June 1963. Then, when he announced he would turn over his 14-karat gold badge to Sousa, Marcucci joked: “I bought it myself. The city only gave me a tin one.”

Marcucci was a life member of the California State Firemen’s Association, International Association of Fire Chiefs and the San Anselmo Firemen’s Association, and belonged to the California Fire Chief’s Association, Redwood Empire Firemen’s Association, San Rafael Elks Lodge 1108 and San Rafael Lodge 57, IDES.

He is survived by his wife, Helen Y. Marcucci and his two sons.

Requiem Mass will be at 9:30 a.m. Friday at St. Anselm’s Church in San Anselmo. Elks’ services will be at 7:30 p.m. tomorrow at the Harry M. Williams Mortuary in San Rafael. Rosary will be recited at 8 p.m. tomorrow. Interment will be in Mount Olivet Cemetery in San Rafael.