Honorees

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Year Honored
2011
Honoree
Joseph L Sutter
Agency
Pitman Ambulance Association
Agency City
Pitman
Agency State
NJ
Last Call
11/1/76
Cause of Death
On-duty Cardiac
Biography
Joe Sutter was a Pennsylvania coal miner before moving his family to New Jersey. After settling his family in Pitman, Joe started his life of volunteer service. He joined the Pitman Fire Patrol in 1940 and became a founding member of the Pitman Ambulance Association in 1968. After joining the Ambulance Association, most of his spare time was devoted to ambulance work. He loved helping people, and after responding to many calls, Joe would remark to his wife how much he enjoyed helping people in need.<br /> <br /> On the night of October 31, 1976, the Pitman Ambulance Association was dispatched to the Pitman Hotel to aid a patient that was bleeding from cuts to the arms. The patient had attempted to commit suicide and was uncooperative with the three-man crew from Pitman Ambulance. With assistance from the police, the patient was restrained and treated. While transporting the patient, Joe started to experience chest pain. Being concerned for the safety of those in the back of the ambulance, Joe slowed the ambulance to avoid a crash and informed the crew of his condition. The ambulance came to a stop after hitting a curb and a tree. The crew immediately radioed for assistance and started CPR. Joe was later pronounced dead despite the efforts of the crew and hospital staff to revive him.<br /> <br /> Honored 2011