Scarborough, Maine (AP) — Greg Wilfert remembers being hooked when he first visited Scarborough Beach State Park as a teenager.
He never lost that affection. He has been working as a lifeguard on the same beach for 50 consecutive years.
“When I come down and look at the beach, what do you call it, your first love? That’s it. I found a way to make it work,” 66. Wilfert, aged, told WMTW-TV.
He was 17 when he first visited the beach in 1972 as a lifeguard. Since then, Wilfert has worked as a PE teacher and ran an antique store with his late wife, but opened the summer for lifeguards. Those who passed in 2019.
Recently he thinks he is a retired teacher. But he hasn’t given up on his summer job yet.
“You can cut anything else. The beach was never choppy. It’s just who I am,” Wilfert said.
At some point, the state tried to sell the park in 1992 to save rent, but Wilfert decided to lease the land and run it himself. He has a business interest in Blackpoint Resources Management, which currently runs the park.
His official position is park manager, but he said he spends 90% of his time on lifeguards.
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Throughout all those years, there were more than 900 rescues, but no one drowning, he said.
“Greg is passionate about the beach. He is passionate about making sure our patrons are safe,” said David, who works as a lifeguard on the beach for 39 seasons. Currier (61) said.
Over the years, they’ve seen their children grow up, Currier said. Some of them are now grandparents.
Wilfert said it was fun to interact with people and share their knowledge of surfing and rip currents. And he has no plans to quit. He is in good shape and swims nearly a mile in the ocean every day.
The old adage that old dogs can’t teach new tricks doesn’t apply to Wilfert.
This summer he began training a Newfoundland puppy named Beacon to work as an assistant. Wilfert wants a 130-pound dog to be part of the rescue team when Beacon is fully grown.
“The dog will be able to pull them in, and it will be pretty impressive when she does it,” Wilfert said.
Worker’s Day marks the end of the season. Wilfert then heads to the mountains to pursue his other passion, skiing. If it’s not exciting enough, he’s also undergoing flight training.
Wilfert and Currier said they plan to return to the beach next spring.
“Our theme song is’Hotel California’,” Wilfert quoted the lyrics. “You can check out at any time, but you can’t leave!”
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Life is still his 50 season main lifeguard beach | National News
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