After 29 years of serving Swampscott as a firefighter, Captain Joe Gambale will be retiring at the end of the month.

Gambale received a citation of appreciation from the Select Board at its Wednesday, December 17 meeting along with a large photograph of the harbor where Gambale also spent many years as a commercial fisherman. Gambale was promoted to the rank of captain in 2018.

“What an honor and a privilege it has been working with the guys I have worked with for thirty years,” Gambale said as he fought through tears. “I will miss them terribly.”

Gambale was deeply respected by fellow firefighters for his knowledge and problem-solving ability.

“When he is packing up, he will be packing up more than clothes and photos from his locker,” said Swampscott Fire Chief Graham Archer. “He will be leaving with an insight the entire department will have to work hard to replace for years to come.”

Gambale’s experience as a fisherman gave him a unique set of skills in his new career. Archer said that Gambale actually taught his own fire instructors valuable lessons about the important skill of knot-tying when he first started.

Toward the end of his career, Gambale spent time focusing on passing knowledge and skills on to younger firefighters he worked with.

“Many young firefighters were eager to serve on his shift,” said Archer.

Archer said replacing Gambale will be a particularly tough task.

“They are quite emotional around the fire station these days about Joe leaving,” said Archer at the meeting, as many of Gambale’s colleagues watched in the crowd.