Kaylee Comes from the Dougherty Family Lifeguarding Dynasty
By Grace Galbreath
We’re interviewing a different lifeguard every week this summer as part of a new series. If you are interested in being interviewed for “Lifeguard of the Week,” email chall@cmcherald.com
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Header photo shows Kaylee Dougherty and her brother Rob saving their father in a lifeguarding drill.
Our first lifeguard of the week is a seasoned member of the Sea Isle City Beach Patrol, Kaylee Dougherty. Kaylee hails from North Wales, PA, and is a rising junior at Temple University, where she majors in Marketing with a minor in Cognitive Neuroscience.
For Kaylee, lifeguarding is a family affair. She, along with her brother Rob Dougherty, were first encouraged to try out for the beach patrol by their father, a former Sea Isle lifeguard. Kaylee said, “Sea Isle is a big place for my family. My parents met down here in high school while my dad was lifeguarding. They fell in love in Sea Isle. Obviously, things worked out for them: they got married and they had us. It was always a dream for them to have their kids guard down here. Thankfully they were able to pull that off.”
Following their father’s advice, Kaylee and Rob tried out for the beach patrol together in 2019 and have been lifeguarding together ever since. This summer is Kaylee’s fifth year as a member of the Sea Isle City Beach Patrol.
Kaylee’s favorite thing about lifeguarding in Sea Isle is the tight-knit, supportive community that the guards have built. “I have had a lot of highs and lows, and I can honestly say that the people I work with are my biggest support system. They have become my best friends. My dad is still super close with the guys and girls that he guarded with, and thankfully I have the exact same experience. I consider them family,” Kaylee said.
Despite having been a member of the Sea Isle City Beach Patrol since 2019, Kaylee’s family only recently purchased their Sea Isle home in 2020. She has been spending time on the beach ever since. When off the clock, Kaylee enjoys surfing and spending time with friends. She says that the people that she has met in Sea Isle have become some of her closest friends.
Last summer Kaylee participated in a few of the annual Cape May County Lifeguard Competitions, including the Bill Howarth Women’s Lifeguard Invitational in Ventnor City. This summer, Kaylee is looking forward to supporting her fellow guards at the races. “This year we will see what happens! Hopefully, the rookies will be able to take over and get us a win,” she said.
Make sure you say hello to Kaylee this summer at her usual spot — the lifeguard stand at 40th street in Sea Isle City!
