CANTON, OH—More than a decade after Joe Carbenia's death, a plaque in his honor has been installed outside Canton Fire Department's station No. 4.
Clara Carbenia, widow of the former councilman and firefighter, joined family members who removed the cardboard and duct tape to reveal his plaque. She then kissed the marker, which is on the southwest corner of the station at 2502 Cleveland Ave. NW.
"At least it's finally done now," she said Thursday.
Carbenia died in 2009 of prostate cancer at age 70. He was a Democratic Ward 9 councilman from 2000 until his death. He also served as a city firefighter from 1963 to 1989 and was involved in the firefighter union on the local, state and national levels.
Dan Fonte, who had known Carbenia for decades, spoke at a City Council meeting earlier this year to question why there was no visible marker at the station. Council had approved a resolution to dedicate the station to Carbenia after his death.
"I thought, enough's enough, let's get it done," he said.
David Dougherty, a former councilman and current city clerk, said the administration "looked into it and had one made."
It was unveiled after a brief ceremony attended by more than 60 people, several of whom shared memories of Carbenia.
"It's kind of like a re-dedication," said Fire Chief Thomas Garra.
The station's grand opening in 2011 included a dedication to Carbenia, according to The Canton Repository archives. The plaque from that ceremony, which includes a shovel and small inscription, hangs inside the station.
Clara Carbenia said out-of-town relatives and friends have asked where to find her husband's marker over the years. Joined by two of her five children and two sisters and a grandson on Thursday, she thanked the city for prominently placing his name on the building.
"I felt that he was a great man," she said.
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