Treasurer
Cary Epstein is a public safety educator, water rescue innovator, and community leader whose career bridges the classroom and the coastline. He serves as Assistant Dean at Long Island University’s College of Education, Information and Technology, where he oversees undergraduate and graduate educator preparation programs, outreach initiatives, and partnerships that connect higher education with K–12 schools across Long Island.
For more than 28 years, Cary has been a lifeguard at Jones Beach State Park, working most of that time at the iconic Central Mall. He has served as Union Vice President and earned recognition for leadership, innovation, and lifesaving excellence, including being named New York State Lifeguard of the Year in 2017.
Cary is also an Emergency Medical Technician with 28 years of service. He was a proud member of the Hewlett Fire Department for 22 years, where he served as an EMS Lieutenant, and spent more than a decade working in the New York City 911 system. He now proudly volunteers with the City of Long Beach Fire Department, serving in the Rescue Company and Water Rescue Team. His long-standing commitment to emergency medicine and rescue has shaped his approach to training, operations, and safety leadership.
At Jones Beach, Cary has been credited with creating New York State’s first-ever Lifeguard Drone Team and developing the New York State Parks Rescue Watercraft Program, where he serves as one of the Team Leads. He was instrumental in modernizing and standardizing lifeguard operations, creating and implementing the Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for the Rescue Watercraft, Drone, and Emergency Response Vehicle programs, ensuring operational consistency, safety, and efficiency across all three initiatives.
Cary is one of the Co-Founders of the Jones Beach Lifeguard Association (501(c)(3)), which supports professional development, community outreach, and wellness for the state’s lifeguard corps. He is the Founder of Epi+Center Rescue, a leading provider of water safety and lifeguard services that also offers aquatic consulting for open-water swims, triathlons, television, and film productions. Through this work, he became connected with Swim Across America, where he now serves as the National Safety Director, overseeing open-water swim events nationwide dedicated to funding cancer research.
Cary is the author of Lifeguarding For Dummies, part of the world-famous For Dummies collection, a practical and accessible guide for aspiring and professional rescuers. At Jones Beach, he also leads the 40-hour Lifeguard Training Academy, mentoring and preparing new recruits in ocean safety, leadership, and teamwork.
Whether coordinating large scale safety operations, teaching future educators, or mentoring the next generation of lifesavers, Cary’s mission remains constant: to build confident, prepared, and compassionate responders who protect lives in and out of the water.