Remembering Long Beach's Michael Kiefer

Michael V. Kiefer was a New York City Firefighter, assigned to Ladder 132, who loved helping others. He was also a Long Beach Lifeguard and community member who loved life, Long Beach and the ocean.

While helping others, he heroically gave his life on September 11, 2001.

The City of Long Beach Department of Parks and Recreation each year hold a Swim, Paddle, Run in his memory. This event is meant to be a challenging workout to honor Kiefer’s dedication and perseverance, among his many qualities.

“It’s really a grassroots race,” John McGlaughlin, one of the organizers, said. “It’s really a lot of locals. This year went pretty well. We had great conditions, the weather, the water was nice, warm and calm, and we had perfect time for it. We also had some young teams this year.”

This year’s event took place on July 28 on the Riverside Boulevard beach.  The race, which began at 8:45 a.m., starts with a 150-yard run to the swim entry point, a 400-yard ocean swim, with a land finish to the transition area. Then, a half-mile paddle board segment with a land finish to the transition and a one-and-a-half mile run on the beach.

“The race went really well,” McGlaughlin said. “Mike’s two sisters, Lauren and Kerri, were there. They spoke, and it was just a nice event and a nice way to start your day.

“We’d like to keep it going, because,” McGlaughlin said, “he was killed, on 9/11, which next year will be 24 years since he was killed. Generation’s pass, the organizers are getting older, and so we’d like to get more young people involved so the race will continue. We don’t want the race to stop.”

Awards were given to the top three male and female finishers, the top three male and female firefighters, the top three male and female lifeguards and the top three teams.

The overall winner was Adam Nussen, the top female winner was Kim Von Durin and the second-place female finisher was Doreen Candon.

“The foundation donated three free new buoys for events,” he said. “We used them for the first time, and they were also used for the lifeguard memorial swim. We have some great sponsors, Skudin Surf and Skudin Swim are always in our corner, the Lifeguard Alumni Association, too. Everybody just pitched in and we had a great year and great weather this year.”