"Ventnor is a little less Ventnor without Bill."

Hundreds of people have left heart-felt tributes on the Ventnor City Beach Patrol Facebook page for Bill Howarth, 61, who died Saturday from pancreatic cancer.

By all accounts, Howarth, a retired Ventnor firefighter and a 48-year member of the Ventnor lifeguard squad, was a remarkable man.

Howarth was a state champion swimmer and the starting quarterback for the Atlantic City High School football team before going on to swimming scholarships with Temple and American University. He racked up numerous titles with the Ventnor City Beach Patrol, of which he is captain, including winning the Ventnor Swim 15 times!

Bill Howarth was also known for his accomplishments as a long-time swim coach with the Atlantic City High School and the Egg Harbor Township Seahawks.

But the thing people leaving tributes to Bill keep pointing to was his ability to inspire and motivate others, as he did in this letter to his Lady Vikings Swim Team, taken from his obituary.

"One final thought- all year I tried my best to inspire and motivate you to be your best, but when I really think about it, it was all of you that inspired and motivated me to the be the best I could be. That is what I will remember the most about this team- not the wins and the titles." - The Press of Atlantic City Obituaries

 

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