The Swampscott Firefighters Union Local 1459 issued a plea for help from the public on behalf of their President, Captain Jim Snow. Captain Snow, a 40 year veteran of the fire service, wrote in the statement that he has lived with IGA Nephropathy, a condition where the kidneys are unable to filter properly. He had been able to live with this condition for 19 years, until Capt. Snow contracted COVID in 2020 while working as a Swampscott Firefighter.

As a result of COVID, his kidney function has continued to decline. In February of 2023, Captain Snow was told that his kidney function had declined to only 10% function, and then to only 8%. That’s when he received the news that he had been fearing for years; It was time to find a kidney donor.

Several of his fellow firefighters at Swampscott fire immediately stepped up, offering to be his donor, but were unfortunately not a match for Jim, leaving the Captain to face going on dialysis in the near future until a donor can be found.

Capt. Snow is a family man, with a wife of 34 years and son who’s now 33. He has relentlessly served the Swampscott community for 40 years and has been devoted to the union as their president for the past 20 years. He has been active with their executive board for the last 39 years and has spent the better part of his career fighting and advocating for his union brothers and sisters. Now his union is rallying for him.


The Local 1459 is encouraging the members of the PFFM to become kidney donors, and asking anyone with type A Negative Blood that would be interested in becoming a donor for Jim to get in contact with him. Jim can be reached directly at (978) 476-9174 or at home at (978) 521-0001.

This afternoon, Live Boston News staff able to speak with Local 1459 Vice President Mike Salsgiver, who not only works under Capt. Snow every shift, but has worked hand in hand in union relations. He said “Jim has been a mentor to all the junior guys coming up in our union. He is also always the “old man” willing to train, no matter what it is. Captain Snow is a proud member of the New England FOOLS which is a group of firefighters that come together for trainings and seminars. Capt. Snow is always by my side getting dirty. 40 years on the job, and he is always a phone call away.”

Anyone willing to help Captain Jim Snow is asked to reach out to him using the contact information listed on his letter.

Captain Jim Snow
Cell: (978) 476-9174
Home: (978) 521-0001
Email: truck21snowy@gmail.com