Deputy Fire Chief & Korean War Veteran
Charles Aughenbaugh, Jr., of Belleville, passed away peacefully at his home on Saturday, April 21, 2018.
Chuck was born in Jersey City, New Jersey then moved to Belleville, New Jersey, during his teen years where he lived for the remainder of his life. He was predeceased by his loving wife, Barbara Aughenbaugh (nee Wilson), He is survived by a son James, and his wife Christine, and his daughter Janice Fox (nee Huber) and her husband David. He is also survived by his grandchildren, Kalya Rose Aughenbaugh, Trevor James Aughenbaugh, Jamie Lynn Aughenbaugh and Katie Lynn Fox. Chuck is also survived by his brother Douglas Aughenbaugh, and his nephew Charlie Aughenbaugh, his Great Nephew Robert, and his Great-Great Niece baby Paisley. Chuck is predeceased by his parents Charles Sr., and Rose (nee Gorin), his brother Gregory and his nieces, Sandra and Lisa.
“Chuck” as he is known around the State, joined the Belleville Fire Department in 1958, retiring after 41 years of service. He was Honorably Discharged as a United States Marine Corps Veteran, and using the Korean GI Bill, attended New York University, where he earned a Bachelor of Science Degree. Chuck continued his education, while he was a Firefighter, and earned a Master of Arts Degree from Montclair State College in Education, along with two teaching certificates in Business and Data Processing.
As Chuck was promoted to Fire Captain and then to Deputy Fire Chief, he aided in the development of the Fire Science Curriculum, in the State of New Jersey, and he taught as an Adjunct Faculty Member, at Jersey City State College and Passaic County Community College.
While serving on national committees for training and education in the Fire Service, Chuck was asked, by Governor Kean, to write a proposal for a statewide program for training and education for New Jersey’s Fire Service which he developed, researched and produced.
Chuck has served as President of the New Jersey Chapter of Fire Service Instructors and he was a member of the Training and Education Council of the New Jersey State Fire Commission. He also was a Project Director for New Jersey’s Forest Fire Service.
Chuck was Co-Founder, President and CEO of the New Jersey Deputy Fire Chief’s Association, a Nonprofit Corporation dedicated to the safety, education and training. He had served in that position since the organization’s inception in 1991. During his tenure as President, he was successful in having become a law, a state-wide Fire Incident Command System, for New Jersey’s Fire Service. This law establishes a Common Management System for all emergencies in New Jersey. He was a proponent for Firehouses for Abandoned Infants, for Incident Command Board making grants and programs for the Fire Service, and for the Highway Traffic Control System. He was instrumental in moving NARCAN into ambulances and police cars.
The funeral service will be conducted on Thursday, April 26 at 10:30 a.m. at the S.W. Brown & Son Funeral Home 267 Centre St., Nutley.
We ask that the visitors begin gathering at 10 a.m.
The interment will follow at Mt. Olivet Cemetery in Bloomfield.
Visitors will be received at the funeral home on Wednesday, April 25 from 4-8 p.m.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital would be appreciated.

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