Robert Bielan, the head women’s soccer coach at New Jersey City, has a saying: Bad things happen when good people stand idlely by.

It’s obvious they’re not just words to Bielan. They’re a way of life. A professional firefighter since 1995, Bielan is being honored by two organizations for his life-saving efforts following a car accident that left one person dead and five injured.

On the morning of June 4, 2007, Bielan, who was off duty, was on his way to a training session. In spite of the stormy weather, a cargo van jetted past him on the Garden State Parkway and moments later slammed violently into a guard rail and overturned. Of the six passengers, two were ejected while the other four were trapped inside the vehicle.

Bielan pulled over, donned his protective gear and went to help. After stabilizing the vehicle, he began freeing the victims from the wreckage. With the help of passersby and other emergency personnel who began to arrive on the scene, he was able to free three people. A fourth, the driver, was trapped, unresponsive and died during rescue efforts. The two occupants who were ejected survived.

After doing all he could, Bielan left the scene without exchanging contact information with other emergency personnel. He did, however, document his role in the rescue operation at his supervisor’s request, but it wasn’t until a couple of months later that he reconnected with a state trooper who had been at the accident site. That trooper communicated Bielan’s actions to his chief. State police Troop E Commander Major Allan L. DelVento wrote a letter to Bielan’s superior, Bayonne (New Jersey) Fire Chief, Patrick Boyle, commending the firefighter’s actions. One of Bielan’s friends also submitted an article to a local paper about the incident. Once the details of Bielan’s heroic efforts emerged, it caught the attention of the fire department and another local organization.

Bielan was honored with the Distinguished Service Award from the City of Bayonne Fire Department on May 26. He also will be recognized as Fireman of the Year by the Hudson County (New Jersey) Latino Coalition on June 22.

The recognition was unexpected but appreciated.

“I was just doing what I was trained to do. It’s humbling, but it’s a job any fireman or cop placed in that situation would have done. It was fortunate I was the guy passing by that day,” said Bielan. “I’m proud to represent my family and Bayonne Fire Department as well as New Jersey City University, the athletics department and the women’s soccer team.”

 “I’m trying to teach my student-athletes to be strong, independent women and prepare them for the next level in life. Whether they go on to work in a company or they become stay at home parents, they have to get involved and help. I want to empower all these women to have confidence, be leaders, step out and follow their hearts.”

                                                                                        -- Robert Bielan, New Jersey City

A believer in the concept of paying forward good deeds, Bielan said he hopes that if he had a friend or family member who needed help, someone would do just that. “Do good by people and you hope people do good by others.”

 Through his actions, Bielan hopes his players and other student-athletes will see the importance of taking an active role in life.

 “I’m trying to teach my student-athletes to be strong, independent women and prepare them for the next level in life,” he said. “Whether they go on to work in a company or they become stay at home parents, they have to get involved and help. I want to empower all these women to have confidence, be leaders, step out and follow their hearts.”

Bielan has guided the Gothic Knights women’s soccer program for the past two seasons. A graduate of New Jersey City, he was a three-year member of the men’s team. Bielan is heavily involved with the local community as a Mason with Masonic Peninsula Lodge No. 99 in Bayonne.