WOODBRIDGE — The entrance of the Woodbridge Waterfront Park has been dedicated to Keasbey Fire Chief Thomas J. “TK” Kolarick, who died in the line-of-duty in 2015.
Mayor John E. McCormac, members of the Keasbey Fire Department and the Kolarick family gathered on June 25 for the dedication ceremony to rename the entrance “Kolarick Way.”
The mayor presented the family with a proclamation at the ceremony.
“Kolarick was a strong and powerful force who personified confidence, ingenuity and common sense on the fire ground and was the type of Firefighter every Fireman wanted to have next to them as they faced the challenges of fire-fighting and emergency response,” the proclamation stated.
Kolarick joined Protection Fire Company No. 1 of Keasbey on August 12, 1974, serving as an active member of the Keasbey Fire Department for more than 41 years until his death in the line-of-duty on Nov. 11, 2015 after suffering from a medical emergency as a result of responding to a fire call in September of that year.
He was a six time chief of the department have served in 1981-82; 1987-88; 1997; 1998; 2003 and 2008 and as Fire Company president.
Kolarick was serving as Keasbey Fire Department deputy chief and fire company treasurer at the time of his death.
He had previously served as fire commissioner for the 4th Fire District of Woodbridge Township from 1983 to 1987 and exempt fireman for the State of New Jersey in 1981.
Kolarick was a member of the Keasbey, Fords and Hopelawn Exempt Fireman Association; member and trustee of the Keasbey, Fords and Hopelawn Firemen’s Relief Association; a life member of the Woodbridge Township Fire Officer’s Association; and life member of the New Jersey State Firemen’s Association.
The dedication was part of the Office of the Mayor and the Woodbridge Township Municipal Council’s work to recognize and honor those dedicated to emergency response personnel and public service volunteers.
