09/13/2026
It is with deep sadness that the Green Pond Volunteer Fire Department mourns the passing of longtime member and friend, Jim Skutka.
Jim dedicated more than 50 years of his life to the fire service, serving with the New Jersey Forest Fire Service, Rockaway Township Fire Department Company No. 1 – Hibernia, and the Green Pond Volunteer Fire Department.
Jim joined the GPVFD in the early 1970s and remained a dedicated member of our department for more than five decades. During that time, he served on the Association Board and held virtually every leadership position within the department, including Engineer, Lieutenant, Captain, and Chief.
A lifelong resident of Green Pond who grew up in Rockaway Township, Jim’s commitment to protecting his neighbors and serving his community was truly a way of life. Generations of Green Pond firefighters had the privilege of serving alongside him, learning from him, and benefiting from the experience and knowledge he accumulated over a lifetime in the fire service.
More than the titles he held or the years he served, Jim will be remembered as part of the fabric and history of the Green Pond Volunteer Fire Department and the community he called home.
We extend our deepest condolences to Jim’s family, friends, and fellow firefighters.
Thank you, Jim, for more than 50 years of service, dedication, and friendship.
Rest easy, Chief. We’ll take it from here.
