Joseph Zanca

Photos by Greg Derr

Firefighter, Braintree

Tell us about yourself.

"I'm someone who works hard. I play hard, and I like helping people."

"I'm pretty simple. I go to work and look forward to coming home and watching my kids play sports."

"I like both of my jobs. Every day I wake up and look forward to that day."

THE SKINNY

RANK: Private

AGE: 43

HIRED IN BRAINTREE: 1999

BIO: Zanca grew up in Braintree and graduated from Braintree High School in 1983. He earned a bachelor's degree in finance from Providence College. He has been married for 20 years and has two sons, ages 13 and 16. He studied finance in college and works as a consultant at Eastern Bank.

What did you want to be when you were a kid?A pilot

What would you have been if not a firefighter?A financial consultant

Best advice you ever got: "Be thankful for what you have, and do not live your life trying to get what you don't have."

Person who gave it to you: Parents

What do you do in your spare time?Coaches youth soccer, Pop Warner football and Little League baseball. He also travels with his family to Myrtle Beach, S.C., every year.