SHOUT OUT: The River Vale Fire Department has its first female chief — and she’s only 33 years old.
Kellie Goodell was accompanied by her uncle — River Vale Fire Marshall and Inspector Gregory Goodell, Jr. — and her 3-year-old nephew, Jackson, as Municipal Court Judge Vincent Galasso swore her in during Friday’s New Year’s reorganization meeting.
“Kellie worked three to four times as hard as anyone else,” Mayor Glen Jasionowski said of her climb from junior firefighter. “Behind the scenes [she] always rose to the occasion.”
Supporting Goodell from along the perimeter of the courtroom were her father and RVFD deputy chief, Gregory Goodell, Sr. — who was sworn in as deputy chief during the meeting — as well as dozens of her fellow firefighters, friends and family members.
Also attending were several River Vale and state officials, including New Jersey Assemblywoman Holly Shepisi, who presented Goodell with a resolution on behalf of the state Legislature “recognizing that women always have to work a little bit harder than their male counterparts.” READ MORE….
STORY / PHOTO: Daily Voice Assistant Managing Editor Cecilia Levine
