Special thank you to everyone who purchased tickets and will be joining us to our sold out event—we look forward to seeing you!
Scott was a Jones Beach Lifeguard and founding member of the Jones Beach Junior Lifeguard Program. His vision and dedication to the children of the program helped shape and train scores of future Jones Beach Lifeguards.
Scott served as a Jones Beach Lifeguard from 1978 to 2022. All but one of those 44 years were spent at Field Six (Scott’s rookie year was at Heckscher State Park).
Scott’s career and impact with members of the JBLC and lifeguards at Field six were long lasting. Scott’s idea to start a Jones Beach Junior Lifeguard program came about after learning about the Long Beach Junior Lifeguard program. In 1998, with13 children and two other lifeguard instructors, Tom Curtin and Susie Tighe, the Jones Beach Junior Lifeguard program began its inaugural season.
As the program grew, word got out and by the time the program hosted its first tournament in 2006, there were over 250 children(ages 10-16) enrolled.
Before Jones Beach, Scott was a standout football player at Carle Place High School (All County, 2nd Team All Long Island and Daily News Best of the Best his senior year). Scott’s talents led him to the Hofstra University football team. In 1980, Scott’s athleticism was noticed by the NY Jets, and they signed him to a free agent contract. Scott competed for the starting punter job eventually won by Chuck Ramsey.
In 1985 Scott joined the New York City Fire Department, a career that spanned 27 years. Scott retired from FDNY in 2012. His last assignment was with the Marine Division.
Today, Scott is happily married (39 years this year) to his wife Irene and is a proud papa and grandpa to three children (Kyle, Kieran and Kelsey) and eight grandchildren (Peyton, Jimmy, Grace, Koa, Finn, Declan, Kaia and Freddy).
Kyle and Kieran are both New York City Police Officers and Jones Beach Lifeguards. Kyle JBLC 2006 and Kieran JBLC 2008.
Scott and Irene spend their time between their homes in Long Beach, New York and The Villages, Florida.
If you were to ask Brandon something about himself he would probably tell you he loves to surf, which is true, but when those who know him best speak about him so many other wonderful things come to mind. Brandon has always been an athlete, loving the aspect of team oriented sports. Along with helping others Brandon has also always loved caring for the environment.
After graduating with a degree in environmental science, he is now happily oyster farming in the Great South Bay. Brandon has lived in New Zealand and Australia and surfed some of the best waves in the world including Bali, Hawaii and of course Robert Moses State Park. He has been a Jones Beach lifeguard for 8 years which combines his love for water, sports and most of all helping people.
Brandon is one of the most selfless people I know, always putting others first. He is a friend anyone would be lucky to have. An example of Brandon’s heart started 3 years ago when Brandon selflessly donated his kidney to his best friend Joe Curry, which he met lifeguarding at Sunken Meadow. After finding out his best friend was battling Alport Syndrome and would need a new kidney Brandon acted. He got himself on the list, completed the tests and waited to find out if he was a match. Brandon faced the donation with grace and gratitude for the ability to, as he would say “help a friend”. The men were a match, and on March 13th, 2021 the two awkwardly shook hands making the nurses believe the best friends of 5 years were complete strangers and off to the operating room they went.
Today Brandon competes in The Donor Games, a series of cross fit workout competitions to raise awareness and support for living donors. These competitions let people see how active you can be even after giving the gift of an organ. After competing in the “Heavy Murph” this year, Brandon was asked to showcase the workout, alongside fellow Donor Games athletes at the National Transplant games. Whether in the water or on land Brandon is the definition of what it means to be a team player, a friend you can depend on and a Jones Beach Lifeguard you want on your crew because to Brandon we’re all family.
Born in Westchester County, Dave was the oldest of five children, eventually joined by Harold, Donald, Sheila, and Wendy. His father, Walter, was an accomplished swimmer from British Guiana who represented Canada in the 1928 and 1932 Olympics, winning a bronze medal in the 4×200-meter freestyle relay and competing against the legendary Johnny Weissmuller.
Dave grew up immersed in swimming and competition, often accompanying his father to the New York Athletic Club, where he developed a lifelong appreciation for athletics, camaraderie, and service. When Walter tragically died in a train accident while Dave was a teenager, the family relocated to Levittown, bringing Dave closer to the beaches that would shape much of his life.
Dave attended Rutgers University, his father’s alma mater, before continuing his studies at Kent State. Between school and summers at the beach, he found his calling in lifeguarding. His career at Jones Beach advanced steadily through the ranks:
6/17/1959 – Lifeguard
7/8/1965 – Senior Lifeguard
6/23/1966 – Assistant Lifeguard Supervisor
6/20/1968 – Lifeguard Supervisor
5/23/1970 – Lifeguard Lieutenant
6/17/1972 – Assistant Chief Lifeguard
5/23/1981 – Field Lieutenant
6/24/1993 – Captain, Robert Moses State Park
5/24/2003 – Field Captain
Along the way, Dave enjoyed adventures far beyond Long Island. He traveled throughout Europe with fellow lifeguards, spent time working and tutoring abroad, and even learned to ski in Switzerland. Skiing became a lifelong passion, leading to annual trips with friends, family, and fellow lifeguards across North America, including Alaska and the Rocky Mountains.
Dave also became well known in the hospitality business, working at several popular Long Island establishments. It was at Garvin’s in Huntington that he met his future wife, proving that some of life’s best rescues happen away from the beach.
Through decades of service, friendship, leadership, and adventure, Dave has remained a cherished member of the Jones Beach and Long Island lifeguard community.
