A fighter – not only of fires but key political battles too, Dominick Marino, president of the Professional Firefighters Association of New Jersey, has died.

President of the PFANJ since 2008 and a former treasurer of the association, Mr. Marino, 61, became a firefighter in 1986 for the North Bergen Fire Department. In 1999, the North Bergen Fire Department became the North Hudson Regional Fire and Rescue Department. Mr. Marino retired from that Fire Department in 2011. He served on the board of the local firefighters union for over 23 years.

His death was not COVID-19-related, according to the speaker’s office.

Mr. Marino died after suffering a massive heart attack.

“I am floored and devastated by the passing of Dominick Marino,” said U.S. Rep. Bill Pascrell (D-9). “Don was a champion for New Jersey’s firefighters and he was also a good friend of mine. We worked hand-in-hand together on getting fire grants, improving staffing, and scores of other areas for our fire heroes. The firefighter cancer registry we finally passed into law would not have been possible without Don’s vision and drive. I valued his direction at all times. In the middle of this pandemic Don was working every day trying to procure protective equipment and supplies to keep our Bravest safe. I want to offer my condolences to his family, his friends, and to his brothers and sisters in the firefighters union. This loss cuts deep.”

Speaker Craig Coughlin (D-19) also released a statement this evening.

“Dominick Marino was a true gentleman and public servant,” Coughlin said. “He dedicated his life to keeping his community safe as a firefighter, and never stopped advocating for first responders across New Jersey. Among his many advocacy accomplishments in Trenton, he played an integral role in the passage of the Thomas P. Canzanella First Century First Responders Protection Act, which strengthened workers’ compensation for first responders. His service to his community, his state and his country will never be forgotten.

“My deepest condolences to the Marino family at this difficult time.”

The New Jersey State AFL-CIO also marked the death of their brother labor leader, whom they described as a valued member of our Executive Board and a hero to every man, woman and child in New Jersey.

“His heart was always with the men and women who run toward danger when others run away,” said New Jersey State AFL-CIO President Charles Wowkanech. “His love of home and community shaped everything he did. He cared for family and friends, for the kids he coached, and especially for the thousands of firefighters and first responders he represented.”

“Dominick was a brother among brothers,” Wowkanech added. “We will miss him greatly. Our prayers go out to his family.”

Mr. Marino was a vice president of the NJ AFL-CIO and served on the Executive Board since 2008. He also served on the Saint Barnabas Burn Foundation Board of Trustees since 2008. Mr. Marino also works closely with the Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA).

At the time of his death, Mr. Marino’s union was embroiled in a fight for the discontinuation of firefighting foams that possess PFAS. Mr. Marino told NJ.com that while most municipal fire departments in the state no longer use the foam in question, firefighters on military bases remain at risk.

“The military bases here in New Jersey, which we have plenty of, have been using [the foam] for a real long time and are continuing to use it because of the stockpiles of the stuff that the government has,” Marino said.

At a time when most other political leaders turned their backs, he also stood up alongside state Senator Barbara Buono of Middlesex County in 2013 when she unsuccessfully ran for governor against then-powerful incumbent Chris Christie.