TRENTON - Legislation sponsored by state Sen. Joseph F. Vitale that would designate State Highway 184 in Woodbridge as Bruce Turcotte Memorial Highway, in honor of a local firefighter of nearly four decades who died in the line of duty in 2012, advanced through the Senate Transportation Committee on Thursday.

“Although he is gone from the community, he is certainly not forgotten in the Township of Woodbridge where he dedicated his life to saving others,” said Vitale (D-Middlesex). “Chief Turcotte was a man whose loss was deeply felt and will not soon be forgotten. He selflessly served as volunteer firefighter for almost 40 years and his name brings a great sense of pride to the community.”

Turcotte joined the Hopelawn Engine Co. 1 in Woodbridge in 1973 when he was only 20 and quickly rose through the ranks, becoming the fire chief in 1983. During his tenure of over 38 years with the volunteer fire company, he served in many positions, including president, company chaplain and historian.

On Jan. 19‚ 2012‚ Turcotte responded with his son, Brian, Hopelawn’s assistant fire chief, along with their crew, to a house fire, where he was assigned to the rapid intervention crew at the scene. It was during that deployment that he was found unresponsive behind the wheel of Hopelawn’s rescue truck after suffering a fatal heart attack.

Beyond his life at the fire company, Bruce Turcotte was a life member of the New Jersey State Firemen’s Association, an Executive Board member of the Woodbridge Township Fire Officers Association, was the Woodbridge Township Mutual Aid Fire Coordinator and the secretary of the United Firemen’s Relief Association of Fords, Keasbey and Hopelawn.

“This is a man who was loved and cherished by his family, by his colleagues, and by countless others in the community where he dedicated his life to helping others in so many ways. Honoring his life and public service is long overdue,” said Vitale. “We want his family and those who loved him to know that his contributions to the Woodbridge community and his many years of touching lives have not gone unnoticed or unappreciated. Mr. Turcotte left his mark on so many in the community, and his name and memory will live on in Woodbridge forever.”

Turcotte was born in Newark and lived most of his adult life in Fords.

The bill, S-3041, next heads to the full Senate for consideration.

Published on MyCentralJersey.com 12/10/15