SIC Veteran Beach Patrol Luminary Joseph Bowen Passes Away at Age 78

SEA ISLE CITY – Former Sea Isle City Beach Patrol lifeguard and captain, Joseph Bowen, passed away in Florida July 11. Bowen was the 10th appointed captain in Sea Isle City Beach Patrol history and guarded the City’s beaches for over 50 years as well as in Wildwood and Hollywood, Fla.
During the winter Bowen worked for the city of Hollywood, Fla. as a lifeguard along with his brother, Hugh, a South Jersey rowing champion who passed away a few years ago. 
At one time Bowen was captain of the Sea Isle City Beach Patrol in the summer, and a lieutenant on the Hollywood Beach Patrol in the winter while brother Hugh was the captain of the Hollywood Beach Patrol in the winter and a lieutenant in the Sea Isle City Beach Patrol during the summer.
According to Joseph LaRosa, principal of the elementary and middle schools in Dennis Township, Bowen formed his attachment to Sea Isle City beaches as a young boy capturing the very first “mascot” swimming title in 1949.
“Joe hired me as a lifeguard full-time in 1969. I have been associated with beach patrols since that summer. In addition to working with him in Sea Isle City, we also worked together in Wildwood,” LaRosa reminisced.
“Others who worked with Joe include Dr. Tom McCann, a former captain of the Sea Isle City Beach Patrol, and principal of Vineland High School who wrote two books on the history of the Sea Isle City Beach Patrol. Others who worked with Joe are Steve Stocks and Ed Schneider of the Wildwood Beach Patrol where Steve is the chief and Ed is the captain,” he said. 
“They both worked with Joe when they were young lifeguards and he taught them about life guarding.  In fact, on Monday morning Chief Stocks addressed members of the Wildwood Beach Patrol at morning roll call, informing the patrol of his passing, explaining the public safety contributions that Joe made to the Wildwood Beach Patrol, while also telling a few ‘Joe Bowen stories’,” continued LaRosa.
Bowne became a full-fledged lifeguard in 1951 at 14 and then went on to claim a lieutenant’s position in 1957. He was appointed captain of the SIC Beach Patrol in 1965.
During his tenure as captain in Sea Isle City, Bowen instituted many new lifesaving concepts, most notably adding seven beaches to the patrol’s responsibility, the largest beach expansion in the resort’s history.
Bowen won the City and Tri-City swim titles multiple times throughout the years. He also was a City and Tri-City Surf Bash champion nine times.
As captain, he led the patrol to the first major team championship in the Dutch Hoffman competition in 1967. Out of the five years Bowen was captain, his patrol won the Tri-City Championships against Avalon and Stone Harbor four times.
Bowen was a founding member of the South Jersey Chief’s Association in 1968 and a founding officer of the SIC Beach Patrol Alumni Association as well as a member of the SIC Beach Patrol Hall of Fame. He graduated from LaSalle High School where he was a swim champion and attended LaSalle University on a swim scholarship.
Bowen is remembered as a trusted mentor of many years, including the current era’s and as a professional who made many public safety contributions to both Sea Isle City and Wildwood. He is still regarded among his former colleagues as a fierce competitor during beach patrol competitions who lived life to the fullest.
Bowen leaves behind his wife, Alma and his children, Brian and Stacey and their families.
To contact Camille Sailer, email csailer@cmcherald.com.