Name: Matt Aquaro.

Street: Hampshire Street.

Family: Wife, Melody and sons, Chris, John and Mathew.

Occupation: Firefighter, EMT with Lyons Ambulance and delivery driver for a bottled water company.

Hobbies and interests: Coaching Danvers Babe Ruth baseball, camping in New Hampshire, fishing, riding motorcycles and  hanging out with his wife whenever he can. Matt feels family is very important and doesn’t care what he does with his family as long as they spend time together.

Matt coaches the Orioles’ Babe Ruth team and when team members were asked what they like about their coach,  Joe Jones said: “We work hard and we play even harder.” 

Matt’s sister Janette shared that Matt has his grandfather’s old badge number on the Fire Department force. Matt explained that his grandfather, Frances “Webby” Dwinell, had badge No. 66 until he retired in 1979, and after he retired he gave Matt some of his belongings, including his badge. Matt had the badge with him during his interviews to become a Danvers firefighter. When he was hired, former Chief James Tutko asked if he wanted his grandfather’s number. Matt said he thought that would be neat and he was officially given badge No. 66.

Best movie: “Goodfellas” and “Step Brothers.”

Dream vacation: Italy.

How long have you lived in Danvers? Most recently Matt has lived in town for nine years. He was raised in Danvers and has left several times over the years, but Danvers keeps calling him back, making him see that “this is where I am supposed to be,” he said. Matt recalls being at the Port School during the blizzard of 1978.

Favorite shop: Home Depot and Dick’s Sporting Goods.

Favorite eatery: “All time favorite place to eat is Rocco’s Pizza.”

Where would someone see you around town? “I can be found on the baseball field, Fire Department, riding my motorcycle around town or fishing on the Ipswich River.”

What would you like to see changed in town? Matt feels there are a few small things he would like to change. He said, “If I were emperor, I would change the square back to the original head-in parking, but I would change it so instead of heading in, you would drive forward past the spot, then back in.” He said people would be driving out and therefore able to see the oncoming traffic.

Matt would also dredge the Mill Pond. He misses the days when you could fish and picnic there. “It was a great spot for families to get together and enjoy and afternoon,” he said.

When asked if there was anything else he wanted people to know about him, Matt added that he wanted people to know how proud he is of his wife Melody, working hard and going to school. Melody is a special education teacher at the Riverside School.