Joe Angyelof Wears Many Hats For Earleigh Heights VFC

At 81 years old, Earleigh Heights Volunteer Fire Company President Joe Angyelof does not ride anymore. Yet he stays busy.

One day, he may be in a meeting about Anne Arundel County’s rezoning process, and the next day, he may be fixing items around the fire station.

“In a way, being president of a fire company is like being CEO or being president of the United States,” Angyelof said. “There is no way you can know all things you will be involved in.”

There was no way, as an adolescent, that Angyelof could predict the journey he would have with the county fire department — from firefighter to fire chief to president, with several other positions in between.

In his youth, he would fetch items from stores for his cousin, a volunteer at Earleigh Heights. That was his introduction to the fire station. Eventually, he found another role model, a driver named George Daniels.

“He kind of took me under his wing and showed me things he didn’t show everyone else,” Angyelof said, recalling one example when a brake line broke on their 1949 Diamond T fire engine. “He said, ‘You’re going to learn more here than in school.’ He bled the brakes and made sure everything was working properly.”

Angyelof officially became a member of Earleigh Heights Volunteer Fire Company in 1959. From 1962 to 1964, he worked as a firefighter for the Friendship International Airport, which later became Baltimore/Washington International (BWI) Thurgood Marshall Airport. His next role was engineman with the Anne Arundel County Fire Department in 1964.

“My ambition was to be a driver,” he said, “but once I saw how the rank structure was, I had my eyes set on moving up.”

He moved up to lieutenant in 1971, captain in 1977 and battalion chief later that year. By 1978, he was promoted to division chief. The fire department moved him all over the county, from Brooklyn Park to Glen Burnie to Severna Park.

“When you get promoted, you go where they send you,” Angyelof said. “Every place I went, I learned from it.”

He learned much throughout his career, including how to bridge the gap between volunteers and paid firefighters. Earleigh Heights, unlike some other stations, had both types of firefighters.

He believes his willingness to listen helped in those situations.

“Even though I was in the paid service, I did have volunteer service,” he said. “I wasn’t pro-paid, but I wasn’t pro-volunteer.”

In retirement, he spent several years in Ocean City but kept his Severna Park house, returning home to help Earleigh Heights with roasts and its annual carnival. Those visits made him realize how much he missed being involved full-time.

“Then the bug hit me again,” he said. “I just had a curiosity as to what was going on.”

In his volunteer role as president, he enjoys working with the personnel at Earleigh Heights because “they’re smart and they know how to get things done.” Many of them feel the same about him.

“He takes a true interest in the success of the company,” said Dave Crawford, the chief at Earleigh Heights Volunteer Fire Company. “For someone not getting a penny to do that, it’s vital. Whenever we need something, Joe does it wholeheartedly, no matter the hour.”

Angyelof has witnessed many changes during his time in public safety. Two specifically stand out: protective gear has improved, and the Baltimore City riots in 2016 forced improved relations between the city and other jurisdictions.

“As bad as the riots were, some good things came out of it and some bad,” he said. “Today, if you call Pennington Avenue, Baltimore City will call two trucks from Anne Arundel County.”

While Angyelof has spent his whole life giving to the community, his role as a dad was just as important. One of his sons previously served the county fire department and the other son was assistant chief for the Washington Airports Authority on 9/11 and was the first chief officer on the scene at the Pentagon.

His sons make him proud, as does his community service.

Angyelof has also volunteered with the Severna Park Elks and served the Anne Arundel County Retired Firefighters Association.

Early in his career, he served the Maryland Army National Guard for six years, achieving the rank of staff sergeant.

“He’s very versatile,” Crawford said. “You have to be able to wear different hats, work with people and genuinely care. The passion he has, it’s rare.”

Heidler Plumbing is a proud sponsor of Volunteer of the Month. To nominate a volunteer, email spvnews@severnaparkvoice.com.