Polar Bear Plunge 2017 for Special Olympics
And then there was one
Once the commotion in the water begins to clear and a majority of the plunge
crowd has shivered back to the boardwalk for a towel and some dry clothes, there
are always a few last men standing amongst the waves, with a fleet of lifeguards
ushering them to the shore. Polar Bear Plunge veterans of years past likely can
guess that Joe Keselica of Guttenberg Local 88 is one of them, dillydallying his
way back to the sand in his quest to stay in the frigid Atlantic the longest.
“First one in, last one out. That’s my motto,” shared Keselica, who stood
waist-deep in the water for 35 minutes as a tribute to his brother, who has spe-
cial needs. Last year, Keselica dedicated the plunge to his mother, who passed
away from pancreatic cancer.
For Keselica, the Polar Bear Plunge has a lot to do with tradition. Each year he
and other PBA members from Locals including Rahway, Bayonne, State Correc-
tions and Woodbridge, compete for the title of “last man standing.” The group
leaves the lifeguards with no choice but to nearly pull the men to get out of the
water. But even as Keselica’s wife waited for him with a dry towel and robe in
hand, Keselica himself hadn’t shuddered a shiver from the 40-degree water.
“The hardest part is when you leave the sandbar as you’re trying to come back
in and the waves are hitting you,” Keselica described.
Keselica has been waving the Guttenberg Local 88 flag in the ocean for more
than a decade of Polar Bear Plunges. While each year of the plunge is unpredict-
able, there’s a good chance that once the beach traffic has rushed back to the
boardwalk to warm up, the blue and yellow Guttenberg flag can still be spotted
along the horizon as Keselica ignores the hypothermic chill, to take a stand for
a cause near and dear to his heart. d
At the bus stop
It’s tough to miss Lakewood’s presence at the Polar Bear Plunge with the Lake-
wood Local 71 bus parked right up against the boardwalk. Though travel for Local
71 is simple from Lakewood to Seaside Heights, the bus comes prepared with all
the plunge necessities for its nine members jumping in the water, and any other
law enforcement brother or sister who wants to hop on the bus to use its ameni-
ties.
Delegate Sean Ward mans the bus for the plunge, making sure the coffee’s run-
ning and members have a place to change and get warm throughout the day. The
high-spirited Polar Bear Plunge brings a change of pace to the vehicle that is usu-
ally used to transport members, food and beverages back and forth from funerals.
“It’s a good time to come out and enjoy the day with your members while sup-
porting a good cause,” said Ward.
Lakewood President Mark Zrebiec was thrilled to attend the plunge with his
members, for the fifth time, on such a nice day in February. The first time Zrebiec
participated in the event, the “ice bath” was warmer than the 20-degree chill of
the atmosphere.
“It absolutely takes your breath away,” explained Zrebiec. “You have to go all the
way under. There’s no tiptoeing in. You’ve got to commit.”
Supporting the Special Olympics has a special meaning for Zrebiec, whose
childhood best friend’s sister has Down syndrome. He recalls the impact Special
Olympics had on her then, even before he was involved in fundraising for the
cause.
“Every year she was doing the summer, fall and winter (Special) Olympics and
I can remember watching her take part in it,” Zrebiec recalled. “To be able to now
contribute and make a difference, it’s a really good thing.” d
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NEW JERSEY COPS
■ MARCH 2017