Marblehead Fire Department Chief Jason Gilliland knew he wanted this job since age 12. (People say this, but for him it is true!) Jason’s uncle in New York was a firefighter, and his dad was a chemist. He graduated in 1983 from North Shore Community College with an associate degree in fire science. In 1984, Jason was appointed to the Marblehead Fire Department as a ‘call firefighter.’ He took his service exam and moved up the ranks, and has now been chief for 15 years.
LISTENING: “I say there are only two types of music: country and western!”
WATCHING: “My wife and I watch documentaries on Netflix and YouTube. ‘Titanic: The Shocking Truth’ — interesting — claiming that the Titanic is actually the sister ship to the real ship that sank. In the fall, I obviously watch football.”
READING: “I like history, not fiction. ’The Reporter Who Knew Too Much’ by Mark Shaw is about Dorothy Kilgallen, who was a columnist, journalist, and panelist on ‘What’s My Line,’ and a friend of the Kennedys. She was investigating the one bullet theory in the death of JFK, and was found dead of an alleged overdose. Fascinating story. Now, a book about the Mayflower that I bought at Saltwater Bookstore, our new bookstore here in town.”
SOMETHING PEOPLE MAY NOT KNOW ABOUT YOU OR YOUR CAREER: “There was a 1939 Mack firetruck that used to be here in town. I bought it in 2023, and my wife and boys are restoring it. It’s a family project and we plan to keep it.”
WHAT YOU ENJOY ABOUT MARBLEHEAD: “The history! I’m not from here, but I read anything I can get my hands on for the history of Marblehead. Read ‘The History and Traditions of Marblehead’ (1880) by Samuel Roads… learned that Harvard University was going to be built here!”
Weekly Recommendations is a column created by Frances Roberts Hill, who selects one Marbleheader each week to interview for entertainment recommendations. Originally from Philadelphia, Frances has lived in Marblehead, where she met her husband and raised their son, for over 40 years. She has a background in advertising and education, and has always loved to write.