Last week, Captain Joseph Callaghan of the Maplewood Fire Department received a fax from the New Jersey State Police commending one of his officers.

Turns out that Firefighter Mike Demartini was enroute home from the State Firemen's Mutual Benevolent Association (FMBA) meeting on November 18 last year. While driving the Garden State Parkway, said Callaghan, "Mike noticed a 78-year-old male exit his vehicle on the shoulder of the roadway and collapse. Mike pulled to the side of the road and assessed the victim."

The man was in full cardiac arrest. Demartini is a trained paramedic and began CPR on the victim. Demartini was joined by a  passing motorist who assisted him. State police arrived on scene and called for an ambulance, and Demartini continued CPR until the arrival of EMS.

"I only learned of this incident after receiving this fax," remarked Callaghan, who added that the victim, who lives in Essex County, has made a complete recovery.    

Amazingly, Demartini never spoke about the incident to anyone. "Mike is our FMBA President and a humble guy," said Callaghan. "He did not want me to share this information, but I told him , 'too bad.' What a guy."