John V. Guppy Pignataro, a Life Member and former Chief whose tenure with the Burtonsville Volunteer Fire agency (BCFD) began in 1977, passed away, the agency said. The BVFD’s social media post is displayed below:
Guppy Pignataro, John V.July 30, 2025; August 14, 1961
We regret to inform you of the demise of former Chief and Life Member John V. Guppy Pignataro, who served and led the Burtonsville Volunteer Fire Department for many years.
Following in his brother Dino’s (then a Sergeant) footsteps, Guppy joined the BVFD as a Junior Member in 1977 while still a student at Paint Branch High School. Guppy soon made the BVFD his second home and continued to be heavily committed for many years.
In addition to serving on the Board of Directors, Guppy held a number of operational and leadership positions over the years. He rose from Sergeant in 1982 to Captain in 1984, Assistant Fire Chief in 1986 under Chief Michael Kerr, Deputy Chief in 1988, and Fire Chief in 1989.
The Pignataro family was heavily involved with the BVFD. Their mother, Carol, was the Auxiliary President; his wife, Rhonda, was heavily involved in the Auxiliary (together with her family); their sister, Nina, joined the Department as a Firefighter; and their sister, Gina, also served in the Auxiliary. Dino later became a career firefighter. Guppy worked with the Lewes Volunteer Fire Department after relocating to Delaware, later sending his son Tony and other future members of the BVFD. Dino was the chief of our nearby HVFD before switching careers to the MoCo Police.
In 1982, Guppy started working with the DCFD. From Engine-8, he rose to the rank of Sergeant before retiring as a Lieutenant.
Guppy received recognition for his exceptional achievements during his time with the BVFD, including praise from the Montgomery County Police Department, Montgomery County Fire Board, and Fire and Rescue Commission for his involvement in important occurrences and public gatherings. He received recognition for responding to more than 500 incidents in a single year, out of a total of more than 5,800 calls with the BVFD, at Montgomery County’s first annual Volunteer Fire and Rescue Award Ceremony in 1989.
Guppy retired from operational duties following the birth of his daughter in 1992, but he remained active through committee work, serving on the Historical Preservation Committee, the Banquet Committee, and the Vehicle Exhaust System Research Committee. In honor of his decades of service and leadership, he was awarded Life Membership that same year.
A profound impression on the department was made by Guppy’s decades of service. He was involved in almost every aspect of the BVFD. His dedication and services will always be remembered.
In addition to offering the family our deepest sympathies and support, the BVFD will provide information about the arrangements as soon as they are confirmed. In honor of Past Chief Pignataro, the firehouse has been shrouded for the time being. We kindly ask that you keep his family in your prayers and thoughts.
The BVFD has been family-oriented from its founding in 1947, and numerous notable family legacies have contributed to the organization’s expansion. There is no denying the Pignataro family’s influence on Montgomery County Public Safety and BVFD history. Dino resigned as a Sergeant from the MoCo Police, and Guppy’s niece (Dino’s daughter), Shannon, is a member of the WVRS.
May this remarkable heritage of service, the innumerable memories we have in common, and the joy and fulfillment that come from helping others inspire us all. According to Albert Schweitzer, a life is only valuable if it is lived for other people. We honor the wonderful life of service that Chief Pignataro has led.
