Charles Voorhees Sr. was born in New York City and was a former resident of Jersey City where he attended St. Peter’s Prep before moving to Secaucus.


Charles worked for Cigna insurance company for 25 years before retiring in 1999.


Charles was a former Secaucus Councilman in the 1st Ward. He was a member of the Secaucus Volunteer Fire Department for 50 years where he served as president of the Exempt Firemen’s Association, Treasurer of the Firemen’s Relief Association, was a former executive committeeman to the NJ State Firemen’s Association, and was a former captain of Engine 3. He was the Hudson County Board Manager of the New Jersey Firemen’s Home, a member and past president of the Secaucus Affordable Housing, and was a veteran of the United States Air Force.

​He is survived by his wife Bernadette (DeRocco) Voorhees, his sons Charles and his wife Teresa Voorhees and James and his husband Santiago Sibert, his daughter Sharon and her husband Michael DiGiovanni, and his grandchildren CJ, Eric, Emily and Michael, his sister Suzanne and her husband Edward Corbliss.

In February of 2019, the newly renovated Engine 3 firehouse had a dedication for Voorhees. Voorhees, a 50 year member of the Secaucus Volunteer Fire Department, will now be an even bigger part of Engine 3. The brand new meeting room located on the 2nd floor has been named the "Charles Voorhees Meeting Room" in his memory. The two doors are decorated with Voorhees' shield and his iconic #1. Also, outside of the room features plaques and pictures of Mr. Voorhees.