Steven Falk
Asbury Park Press
TRENTON, N.J. — Gov. Phil Murphy Thursday signed a law named for a former Brick football coach and firefighter designed to ensure the surviving spouses of fallen firefighters can count on financial security.
The Dominick Marino PFRS Enhanced Benefits for Surviving Spouses Act is named after the late president of the Professional Firefighters Association of New Jersey and a long-time Brick Township High School assistant football coach. He died last April 14.
Marino was a retired member of the North Hudson Firefighters Local 3950.
“A fierce advocate who put his heart and soul into everything he did for his PFANJ brothers and sisters, Dominick was a dear friend to me and to so many of us,” Murphy said. “It is my great honor to sigh this bill to cement Dominick’s legacy and help ensure that our first responders’ loved ones who are left behind are taken care of.’’
The law provides financial security for a member’s surviving spouse by ensuring that the accidental death benefit provided by the Police and Firemen’s Retirement System can’t fall below $50,000 a year.
“The health and well-being of his firefighters, EMTs, paramedics, as well as their families, were very important to our father,” the Marino family said. “He continued to work hard and fight for them every day. This bill is just one example of his hard work and dedication to them, and we are honored to have this bill named after him.”
Steve McConlogue, the current president of the Professional Firefighters Association of New Jersey, said the bill “exemplifies what Marino was about.
“He was the driving force behind this bill and felt passionately about ensuring that the families of those who made the ultimate sacrifice are taken care of regardless of years of service,” McConlogue said. “As firefighters, we show up each and every day knowing the danger and risks involved and, just as we believe in the importance of protecting and serving the members of our communities, we believe in taking care of each other. This bill helps to ensure we are doing just that.”
A native of North Bergen, Marino had served on the Brick Township football team’s coaching staff since 1992 before his death.
Marino coached the Brick freshman team during most of his tenure as an assistant coach. His tenure started under Warren Wolf, the late legendary Brick head coach.
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(c)2021 the Asbury Park Press (Neptune, N.J.)
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