Friends and Family Remember Firefighter Jim Mangine

June 5, 2023

Among the memories shared at a Celebration of Life for Jim Mangine. Photo by J. Phalon, 5/2023

Friends, family and fellow firefighters gathered June 3rd to honor the memory of Jim Mangine with a Celebration of Life. At Triple Creek Farm, which Jim started after his retirement, several hundred people shared stories and legends about Jim, and some were said to even be true!

He died April 15th after a short bout with cancer. Jim was honored with a ceremonial last call over the Fire Service frequencies, the firefighters’ version of the 21-gun salute.

James Anthony Mangine was born in 1957 in Trenton and was raised in Hamilton. He attended West Virginia University, where he met his wife, Cheryl. They moved back to New Jersey in 1981 to be closer to family.

After a brief stint with the West Virginia Division of Forestry, Jim joined the New Jersey Forest Fire Service, where he served for 25 years. He served on the Knowlton Volunteer Fire Department, the Relief Association and was a member of the Search and Rescue Teams of Warren County including High Angle Rescue, a very high-risk rescue method that requires extensive training.

Members of the Knowlton Township Volunteer Fire and Rescue Co. No. 1 pay their respects to Jim Mangine. Photo by J. Phalon, 5/2023

After he retired from the Forest Fire Service, Jim and Cheryl started Triple Creek Farm and Nursery at their residence in Knowlton where he specialized in arborvitaes and Christmas trees.

He also pursued his interest in winemaking with his firefighting buddies, creating a vintage they christened “Retired Wine.”

Jim’s daughter, Ashley said her father was happiest outdoors, where he enjoyed kayaking,
fishing, hiking and playing Frisbee. She said Friday night pizza was a family tradition.

Ashley Cattafi shares memories of her father. Photo by J. Phalon, 5/2023

Jim is survived by his wife of almost 44 years, Cheryl. He is also survived by his three children, Jeremy Mangine and his wife Ashley, Ashley Cattafi and her husband Nick and Cara Stokes and her husband Bill.

He is also survived by his four grandchildren, Avery, Ellie, Jett and Liam. He was predeceased by his brother Joseph and his parents.

Joe Phalon, Contributing Writer

Contributing Writer

Joe brings decades of journalism experience to the Ridge View Echo, covering everything from local school boards to the U.S. Supreme Court. A former National Law Journal editor and Columbia Law School press officer, he now enjoys telling community stories in Blairstown, where he lives with his wife, Rose, and their two dachshunds.