Sea Isle City Beach Patrol’s Renny Steele Is Honored After 40 Years Of Service

SEA ISLE CITY – Sea Isle City Beach Patrol Captain Renny Steele has been a member of the life-saving organization for 40 years – and 2010 marks his 25th year as captain. A winter-resident of Voorhees, NJ, and a student counselor at Delran Intermediate School during the off-season, Steele replaced Captain Steward Bakley in 1986. Today he is the longest-standing captain in the beach patrol’s history.
When Steele became a lifeguard during the late 1960’s, several of his friends had also recently become members of Sea Isle’s beach patrol. Not wanting to work indoors each summer, he felt that being a lifeguard would be more fun than working at an arcade or any other indoor business. 40 years later, he still feels he made the right career choice.
“The SICBP becomes a part of you after a few years – a part of your identity,” Steele said. “The camaraderie, the competitions with other beach patrol organizations, working with children – it’s all part of what keeps many guards coming back each year. Plus, Sea Isle City is a great town with a lot of good people, and that also makes the job enjoyable.”
Steele, who works everyday during the summer at the beach patrol’s new headquarters on 44th Street, also said that the SICBP has seen many changes over the past four decades.
“When I first started, we had very few two-way radios on the beach. Today every lifeguard stand has radio communication and we have much better equipment in general. All of our beach patrol administrators are now EMT’s as well, and we are always searching for ways to improve.”
A man who constantly looks to the future, ten years ago Steele instituted the patrol’s Junior Lifeguard Program, which is designed to cultivate future guards for the resort. Additionally, he is very proud of his organizations safety record, even though he humbly stated with a smile that “most beach patrol members don’t like to talk about their successes…knock on wood.”
In 2009, the SICBP, which averages 90 members per season, instituted more than a dozen major “flag rescues,” when entire beaches are quickly closed so guards can focus on dire situations in one location. They also handled more than 600 “fish-outs,” when guards quickly retrieve struggling swimmers. Additionally, beach patrol members addressed over 200 medical emergencies, ranging from heart attacks to minor injuries, and they aided more than 150 lost children.
To celebrate Steele’s lengthy history with the SICBP, a surprise party was recently held in his honor. The celebration was attended by over 100 guests, including many former guards, past beach patrol captains and friends. Several City leaders were also in attendance, including Councilmen John Divney, Mike McHale and Bill Kehner, who read a proclamation from Sea Isle City Mayor Leonard Desiderio that declared July 29 as “Renny Steele Day.”
For additional information about the Sea Isle City Beach Patrol, visit www.sicbp.com or phone (609) 263-3135.