A New Beach Manager and Lifeguard Captain

The long-debated beach replenishment project was about to become a reality. Sea Girt’s plan needed revision multiple times because property owners on Morven had deeds to the beach, dating to Stockton’s Beach House and the Stockton Hotel. The owners finally conceded to allow unfettered access to their stretch of sand.

Veteran Beach Manager Jack Roberts simply wanted to enjoy the summer after 30 years of service. The school teacher had helped build the Belmar Beach into a professional operation for over 25 years and had contributed greatly to the Sea Girt Beach operations over the last five years.

Jim Freda was ready to step into the job. Jim was a top lifeguard competitor in Belmar, and he relished the opportunity to work with a friend and the new Captain of the Sea Girt Lifeguards, Tim Harmon, who was his teammate on the top-ranked Belmar Squad. Freda, an award-winning science teacher at Manasquan High School, took a disciplined and scientific approach to the management of the beach.

He knew the water. Jim has written ‘the book’ on New Jersey Shore saltwater fishing. “Fishing the New Jersey Coast’ is the best-selling book on the subject. Jim has received the “New Jersey Center for the Book Award” as one of the most notable NJ books. He is also co-author of “Saltwater Fishing, A Tactical Approach”, and he’s a USCG-certified captain. He’s a fishing guide and is the long-standing fishing columnist for the Coast Star and also covered fish for the Bergen Record.

Jim’s tactics for landing fish in his second book

Tim Harmon was part of the legacy of lifesaving at the shore. His father Art Harmon, was a legend. When Tim came to Sea Girt, Art was Manasquan's head lifeguard, and he had 30 seasons working on the beach, and a history of safety at Bromley on the Vermont ski slopes. Art was a Rumson/Fair Haven physical education teacher and swim coach.

The beach team has been together for a generation

Tim's brother Matt was also a top competitor, and Tim brought him to Sea Girt in 1996, along with others who still serve today. The boys had worked with their dad at Lavallette and Avon; although all three did not work together until Art came to Sea Girt in the mid-2000s. Art worked as a supervisor in Sea Girt until he passed away after his 45th season in 2009. Tim has continued to use older lifeguards with deep experience to share their expertise with the younger guards, long after their days of being the fastest off the chair.

Jim Freda looked to upgrade the high standards at Sea Girt. He and Tim Harmon wanted the best-trained squads and sought US Lifesaving Association Certification for the Sea Girt Beach Patrol. In 1997, they were one of only five squads in New Jersey to achieve certification. It required developing an extensive education, testing, and training regimen for the squad. Even seasoned guards have over 40 hours of training each year.

With its new members, in 1997, Sea Girt defeated Belmar, the prior "team to beat" in Monmouth County at their tournament.

Sea Girt attracted many of the best competitive rowers and swimmers on the coast. They turned away many candidates. This was not the norm for the mid-1990s. Summer jobs for college students paid better than lifeguarding, without the discipline and training. Lifeguard jobs at Gateway National Recreation Area at Sandy Hook went unfilled, and the park shrunk their available guarded beaches. But Freda and Harmon made lifesaving a way of life for their squad, and the high standards paid off in a culture that still attracts top guards.

Jim is noted for his integrity, ocean awareness, and good treatment of beach employees. He also took the concept of junior guards to a whole new level.

Sea Girt had a training program for junior lifeguards over the many years of the beach patrol. Jim Freda and Tim Harmon built on an idea developed by Howard Rowland, grandfather of Belmar Lifeguard, who saved up to 6,000 lives in his rescue efforts over the years before he died in 1988 at age 81.

Junior Lifeguard competitors race in the sand to sprint and grab.

Jim and Tim fully fleshed out the Junior Guard program and included swim instruction, lifeguard training, competition, ocean safety, and surfing instruction. Former fireman Mike Haney was tapped to start the program in Sea Girt.

The Sea Girt Beach Patrol developed a mini-guard program for kids 6-8, and a full junior guard squad who assist in setting up the safety equipment, learn how to read and navigate the ocean, and get out and back via swimming, paddling, and surfboards. They also run an Iron Guard program geared toward older junior guards with the best skills who are training for the rigors of full-lifesaving. Built around fun and healthy competition, they participate in local and national tournaments. The Junior Guard program has evolved into a full summer camp experience for 150-300 participants.

After the replenishment significantly widened all the beaches, Jim and the beach department took responsibility for the Guard Camp. Up to 20 beach stands are staffed in 1.8 miles of beach, and the available staff can reach over 80 surf lifesavers. In 2020, the squad obtained a second certification for powered watercraft from the USLA. The staff operates a fleet of vehicles and a communications network, connecting the squad to local police and first aid squads.

Iron Guards compete against other teams from all over the East Coast. Top competitors go to Nationals.

Tim Harmon is also the Emergency Management Coordinator for the town of Sea Girt, as FEMA and the State require a community-based approach to preparedness, response, rescue, and recovery.

Tim is all about safety. He developed an after-hours response team in Southern Monmouth for when a 911 call comes in for someone in the water during non-swimming hours. Police are often heavily laden with equipment, and it’s dangerous for them to enter the water. Lifeguards who live in the area can respond when help is needed.

Jim Freda is spending his 47th year working on the sand, and Tim Harmon is at 40, plus a bunch more looking up to his dad. These men have given a combined 60 years to the safety of Sea Girt beach goers, and the development of young lifeguards.