Luis “Tito” Atienza, born on July 2, 1970, in Newark, NJ, moved to Elizabeth in the late 1970s and graduated from Elizabeth High School in 1988. His professional journey commenced with the New Jersey State Department of Corrections in 1997, followed by a dedicated service with the Elizabeth Fire Department which began in 1999.
Throughout his career, Luis has achieved many notable milestones, such as: Hurricans- Ida, Sandy, Irene, part of the Elizabeth Confine Space/Tech Rescue Team and actively participating in New York City rescue operations at Ground Zero in 2001. His commitment and excellence led to his deserving promotion to Elizabeth Fire Captain in 2017 and later to Battalion Chief in 2021.
Beyond his professional endeavors, Luis has deeply engaged in selfless service to the community, contributing to various diverse cultural organizations. Widely recognized as AA Auto Body’s “go-to” guy, for many years he has played a pivotal role in providing Mr. George Vega’s antique cars for numerous carshows and parades, including many of those in The City of Elizabeth, New York City on 5th Avenue, and Union Township, among others.
While he is of Puerto Rican decent, he shares his heart with the Portuguese community. Specifically, for the past 20+ years he has served an important role behind the scenes as a strong support across multiple sectors in being liaison for the Elizabeth Portuguese Community. Furthermore, he has helped the Elizabeth Portugal Day Parade committee with its annual festivities in paying tribute to the parade honorees.
Personally, Luis is happily married to Yesenia with two children: Luis, Jr., Yasmeen and four grandchildren: Genesis, Jaslene, Joshua and Jacob currently residing in Elizabeth, Union County, NJ.
His multifaceted contributions reflect a passionate commitment to both his professional duties and the vibrant diverse community he serves.