By Steffen Klenk
During this year’s Horsepower by the Bay car show in Somers Point, dozens of vintage vehicles, hot rods, and rarities were rolled out of the garage and put on display for all to see. There was one vehicle that captured my eye instantly. It was a custom-made 1975 MACK 600 series pumper fire truck. The vehicle itself has all of the bells and whistles of any modern fire truck, equipped with lights and sirens, the New York City Fire Department (FDNY) emblem, and a American flag and bald eagle etched carefully on the back with the words “Never Forget” in tribute to 9/11.
The vehicle has been brought to our area thanks to 92-year-old Sea Isle resident Lou Minchelli, a former firefighter, and proud Air Force veteran. He began serving our country in 1948, when he was stationed in Guam during the Korean War. He served as a staff sergeant until 1952 and played for the Air Force’s men’s softball team.
Several years afterward, in 1958, Minchelli began working for FDNY. He fought during a time in New York City history known as the “war years.” In a time when many suburban areas were on the rise, between the mid-60s and 70s, the city faced an increase in arson-related incidents. Fire departments struggled to keep volunteer staff and were called to upwards of 8,000 calls a year, half of them being false alarms. A national study conducted in 1973, under the name “America Burning,” brought light to the problems firefighters had faced. It was because of this study that changes were made. In 1974, U.S. Congress passed the Federal Fire Prevention and Control Act.
After serving as lieutenant for Engine 63 in Harlem, Minchelli retired from FDNY in 1980. A short time afterward, he and his family moved to Sea Isle City. Upon re-locating, he ran a successful hot dog stand for 20 years, known by locals as “Lou the Hot Dog Man.” Most recently, he has made carefully designed trinkets shaped into turtles, each figure crafted using seashells. He has given away more than ten thousand of them to residents and visitors and has earned the nickname “Turtle Lou” by locals.
On March 2, 2020, Minchelli celebrated his 90th birthday and was greeted to the sound of a custom Mack 600 fire truck, like the one he rode in New York City, given as a gift by his two sons, Joe and Michael. His reaction was priceless. “He just kept shaking his head. He couldn’t believe it,” Joe Minchelli recalls. Half a dozen co-workers made the special journey to surprise Minchelli.
Today, the mack 600 fire truck makes special appearances at local parades and car shows. Most recently, his son Joe could be found in the driver’s seat along Asbury Avenue during Ocean City’s Halloween Parade. The truck is slated to appear at Sea Isle City’s Veterans Day Parade on Friday, November 11th, followed shortly thereafter by the Cape May Christmas Parade.
Every day, the brave men and women of local fire departments all throughout the country dedicate their lives to helping others, not only putting out fires but saving countless lives. Minchelli’s devotion and dedication to service hasn’t gone unnoticed. He has received praise from local Congressional delegation and was given an official letter from The White House.
Steffen Klenk is a multimedia journalist. He resides in Ocean City and enjoys capturing the eclectic moments of shore life.
