A firefighter's fire chief A firefighter's fire chief (December 24, 2004)

Marinaro takes over as head of city's fire department

by Bill D'Agostino

The promotion of Nick Marinaro to chief represents a new era in the Palo Alto Fire Department. Nothing demonstrated that better than the rousing 20-minute speech the new chief gave after his swearing-in ceremony on Dec. 16.

Mostly addressing the rank-and-file firefighters in the packed City Council chambers, Marinaro evoked themes of honor and responsibility, imploring them to constantly improve themselves.

The public has entrusted you with their safety, he reminded them. "It's not supposed to be easy. If it was easy, everyone would do it." But he said he would make sacrifices, too. "As a leader, I'm supposed to care more about you than me."

By contrast, former fire chief Ruben Grijalva -- who left to become the state's fire marshal in August -- was once described by his own firefighters as "ego-motivated" in a survey commissioned by the firefighters' union.

A movie buff, Marinaro ended his oratory with an extended quote from "Saving Private Ryan." During a standing ovation, the new chief -- a 32-year veteran of local fire service -- again showed his modest side when he gestured with his thick arms for the rising crowd to remain sitting.

"Nick is about doing the job and being one of the team," Councilwoman Judy Kleinberg said. "It's not about him, it's about the service he provides."

Other local dignitaries lauded the speech. Former Mayor Gary Fazzino said it was better than any "State of the City" address, including his own.

Growing up in the small town of Clovis, near Fresno, Marinaro exercised both his body and mind. He was a student athlete who excelled in golf and worked long hours in his dad's garage and in the nearby orchards. But he was also president of the speech club and scholarly enough to get accepted into Stanford University's class of 1972.

He paid his way through college working as a student firefighter, performing 12-hour shifts, from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. and then going to class.

In June 1972, he was one of the first to arrive on the scene of a scorching blaze at Encina Hall; at the time it was the largest fire in Santa Clara County. As he held the hose shooting the first blast of water into the building, an intense wave of heat fired back at him.

"I thought that was it," Marinaro said. "I really thought that was the end: 'See ya' mom.'"

The heat from the flames was so strong it melted face shields and the plastic nozzles on fire hoses, he recalled. "They suspected arson but could never prove it."

After graduation, he considered becoming a physician's assistant. But the job market was so bleak he took a full-time position as a firefighter for Stanford. When the university's fire service merged with Palo Alto's in 1976, he came along. He's been here since, working every job in the department except fire inspector.

"I think he's going to be a firefighter's fire chief," said Deputy Fire Chief Judy Jewell, "a fire chief that understands firefighters on the line."

The new chief, who lives in Palo Alto's Barron Park Neighborhood, also has an interest in the community: he's coached youth softball and soccer, is a leader of the local Lion's Club and recently rode a bicycle tour to raise money for leukemia research.

Long-time friends describe him as a caring good listener. "When there were hard times, Nick was always there," said Jack Leslie, a retired Palo Alto firefighter.

Despite his soft side, the new chief is not known as a pushover. During his swearing-in, City Manager Frank Benest said he felt simpatico with Marinaro since both are "loud and throw our hands around."

"Nick is the only department head who makes me look only moderately boisterous," Benest said smiling.

That afternoon, the new chief received a surprise from a leader of the Menlo Park Fire Protection District. The relationship between the two local agencies has been strained for years, but Division Chief Harold Schapelhauman decided that Marinaro's promotion was the right time to extend an olive branch.

So, in the middle of Dec. 16's ceremony, he handed Marinaro a present: The helmet worn by Palo Alto's first fire chief. Schapelhauman had bought the treasure at an antique shop in Los Altos in 1983.

"I think it's the right time to do it, the right time to give it back," Schapelhauman said. He turned to address Marinaro: "The county line is not a wall. Chief, here's to new beginnings."

"I agree with you," Marinaro said when he returned to the front of the chambers. "I hope this is a new beginning."

Staff Writer Bill D'Agostino can be e-mailed at bdagostino@paweekly.com.

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