Memorial swim on city beach set for Sunday

LONG BRANCH — The fourth annual Ray Licata Memorial Swim is scheduled to be held on the city's oceanfront on Aug. 17.

The one-mile swim will be held at Pier Village and will start at 8 a.m. with the fun swim following. This year's event is expected to attract more than 300 swimmers, and all proceeds are earmarked to support a junior lifeguard program, according to the press release.

The one-mile swim memorializes the late Ray Licata, who loved the beach and always did his part to support shoreline safety. In August 2004, Licata was swimming at West End beach when he collapsed on the beach and died shortly after.

Licata served as an administrator for the Monmouth County Division of Social Services for 34 years, retiring in 2002. He also volunteered for the county 9/11 Memorial project and the Deal Lake Commission.

As an avid swimmer along the West End beachfront, Licata knew the waters well, and in those rare instances when the lifeguards needed assistance or an extra set of hands, Licata was there, according to the press release.

Licata also took care of the beach and could often be seen collecting unsightly trash, providing instruction to young children during their first experiences in the ocean, and occasionally helping with rescue efforts, the release states.

He recognized the importance of the lifeguard's role and talked shortly before his death about organizing an ocean mile swim in Long Branch.

The now annual Ray Licata Memorial Swim is co-sponsored by the Long Branch Department of Recreation. Over the past three years, the swim has raised over $24,000, which has been used by the city of Long Branch to purchase a certified lifeboat, portable defibrillator, Jet Ski and an all-terrain vehicle.

All of the equipment is in use to protect the residents, vacationers and visitors to the Long Branch beachfront, according to the release.

The junior lifeguard program will teach children and adolescents the basic requirements of beachfront safety, swimming and lifeguard skills.

The hope is to give young members of the community, particularly those who do not have the financial resources to enroll in the program, an opportunity to learn how to promote ocean safety and potentially become a member of the Long Branch lifeguard team, according to the release.

For information on the swim or the new program, visit www.RayLicataMemorial Swim.com or call 732-222-2932.