82-year-old New Jersey man recognized as oldest sitting lifeguard

BAY HEAD, N.J. -- A New Jersey man has been recognized as the oldest sitting lifeguard.

Ed Kiziukiewicz is one of many across the nation patrolling the beaches this summer as a lifeguard, but he stands above the rest in experience -- and age.

At 8 a.m., it's time for Kiziukiewicz to hit the office.

"Well, this is the beginning of my office. My office is actually on the beachfront. It's not just sitting on the beach looking at the girls, it's looking at the people in the water, and if you're doing your job, you basically should be a dry lifeguard," Kiziukiewicz said.
Kiziukiewicz has been doing his job well since 1961 and has been recognized by Guinness World Records as the oldest sitting lifeguard in the nation!

His day begins with a walk to the water to check out conditions.

"Looks like it's gonna be a good day for patrons," Kiziukiewicz said. "It's not gonna be necessarily as rugged as it was the last couple of days with regard to rip currents."

With a green flag in hand, he heads to the Mount Street stand.

"Sometimes, it's how people walk down the beach whether you're gonna have a problem with them or not. Other times it's how they swim in the water, how they enter the water," he said.

At 82, Kiziukiewicz and his fellow guards begin the day with a good stretch.

The retired Brick High School math teacher and Seaside Park resident began his lifeguard career in 1961 at Island Beach State Park, and has called Bayhead Beach his summer job for the last 23 years.

He also shows no signs of slowing down.

"I'll let the beach know in April after I finish doing my ski stint, then I'll be able to know whether I'm ready to go again next summer," he said.

That's right. Kiziukiewicz's winter job is a ski instructor, but he'll always have a spot open on the stand as long as he wants it.

He's just one of the local heroes you'll meet down the shore.