Joseph W. Dooley Sr.
Chief Lifeguard for Suffolk County Department of Parks
Joseph W. Dooley was involved in lifeguarding for fifty years. He started as a lifeguard at Long Beach, New York and then moved east to Suffolk County Department of Parks as an ocean lifeguard and assistant chief under the direction of chief lifeguard Richard Bell. He worked at Smith Point from July 8, 1959 until the date of his passing in 1999.
Mr. Dooley was the chief administrator of the Suffolk County Civil Service Lifeguard testing program, a Red Cross Instructor trainer in first aid, cardiopulmonary resuscitation for the professional rescuer, and the American Red Cross lifeguarding courses. He was responsible for organizing and running the officiating for the Suffolk County Water Safety Carnival in Brookhaven, the 1965 and 66 National Lifeguard Tournament at Montauk, which was featured on Wide World of Sports, the Aimee Orenstein Tournament at Long Beach, the USLA National Lifeguard Tournament at Long Beach, and Suffolk County’s Long Island Championships held at Smith Point County Park.
I was age 16 when Mr Dooley tested me at Dix Hills Town Pool to be a lifeguard for the town of Huntington, NY. I passed his exam. The hardest part for me was doing 100 yards sidestroke with my right arm across his barrel of a chest. He encouraged me the whole way. I also remember him as a referee during one of my lacrosse games. I had the ball in my stick as I needed to wait for him to blow the whistle to resume play. I was itching to get going but he said to me “hold up Joe, hold up” He knew my name which surprised me. That was Joe Dooley. I wish I could have gotten to know him more.