TO THE RESCUE

Joseph Garrity Jr.

Firefighter-EMT, Milton

Tell us about yourself

"I have a strong work ethic and respect for others that I inherited from my mom Pat and my dad Joseph.''
"An important part of our job is the brotherhood, and to make sure we honor those who have gone before us and to show support for their families.''
"You can’t have a bad day. You have to give 100 percent all the time.''
"Being a firefighter growing up in the town you work you run into a lot of people you know. You have to be compassionate.'' "As a department we are successful through team work. We do nothing individually and that’s a great feeling.''

THE SKINNY
RANK: Firefighter-EMT
AGE: 48 Appointed in Milton: 1983
BIO: Garrity’s father Joseph Sr. was a long-time Milton fire fighter. Joe Sr. didn’t talk much about the job, but when he did, his eyes lit up and it sparked a similar feeling in his son’s heart. Garrity also saw his father in action when the same house on their street caught fire twice. "I was fascinated by the job and his work ethic,'' Garrity said. "He let us visit the headquarters on Canton Avenue and we got to sit in the trucks and wear the hats. I guess it had an effect.'' Garrity grew up in a family of five children, who his mother Pat, 82, raised single-handedly after his father died suddenly at age 50. Garrity graduated from Boston College High School in 1977 and earned a physical education degree from Boston State College in 1982. He teaches emergency medical skills at the American Medical Response Academy in Brockton. He has been married to his wife Janet for 23 years. They have two children, Colin, 19, and Shannon, 16, and live in Hanson.
What did you want to be when you were a kid? A teacher or a fire fighter
What would have been if not a firefighter: teacher
Best advice you ever got: Whatever you do choose to do, give it 100 percent and at the end of the day you can look at yourself in the mirror and say that you did your best
Person who gave it to you: Mom and Dad
What do you do in your time off: Play softball, run, work, spend time with the family