PHOTO — Flanked by West Haven’s lifeguard staff, head lifeguard Jack Miklos, center, receives a citation from Mayor Dorinda Borer on Tuesday, Aug. 12, for his recent rescue of a young male swimmer in distress near the pedestrian bridge off Sea Bluff Beach. With them are, from left, Councilman Gary Donovan, D-4, and Pool and Waterfront Coordinator Margaret Ruggiero of the city’s Department of Parks and Recreation. (City Photo/Michael P. Walsh)
WEST HAVEN, Aug. 13, 2025 — Jack Miklos, the Department of Parks and Recreation’s head lifeguard, received a citation from Mayor Dorinda Borer on Tuesday, Aug. 12, for his recent rescue of a young male swimmer in distress off Sea Bluff Beach.
Miklos, who is entering his junior year at Stonehill College, was recognized by Borer and other city officials during a ceremony at a pair of lifeguard chairs on Oak Street Beach.
He was accompanied by his parents, John and Marybeth Miklos, and his grandmothers, Mary Lou Miklos and Patricia Reardon.
“I join the members of the West Haven Department of Parks and Recreation and the residents of our great city in commending your vital role in safeguarding the lives of swimmers on the West Haven shoreline,” said Borer, reading the citation to Miklos, who was flanked by several lifeguard staff members and Pool and Waterfront Coordinator Margaret Ruggiero, who supervises Park-Rec’s lifeguards.
Borer continued her praise of Miklos, saying, “You are an inspiration to the Park-Rec Lifeguard Training program and a true ambassador of our community.”
According to Miklos’ account of the rescue, which occurred at 2 p.m. Tuesday, July 29, the distressed swimmer chased a beach ball into the water at high tide near the pedestrian bridge on Sea Bluff Beach, where the Cove River flows into Long Island Sound.
Perched on a nearby lifeguard chair, Miklos said the current took the swimmer under the bridge where he could no longer touch the bottom. Once he spotted the swimmer’s arms flailing, he immediately jumped into action and swam out to save him.
Borer said Miklos’ “prompt response and extraordinary heroism in action prevented a tragedy.”
The ceremony was also attended by Councilman Gary Donovan, D-4.
— MICHAEL P. WALSH, Public Relations Information Coordinator
Flanked by West Haven’s lifeguard staff, head lifeguard Jack Miklos, center, receives a citation from Mayor Dorinda Borer on Tuesday, Aug. 12, for his recent rescue of a young male swimmer in distress near the pedestrian bridge off Sea Bluff Beach. With them are, from left, Councilman Gary Donovan, D-4, and Pool and Waterfront Coordinator Margaret Ruggiero of the city’s Department of Parks and Recreation. (City Photo/Michael P. Walsh)
Flanked by West Haven’s lifeguard staff, head lifeguard Jack Miklos, center, receives a citation from Mayor Dorinda Borer on Tuesday, Aug. 12, for his recent rescue of a young male swimmer in distress near the pedestrian bridge off Sea Bluff Beach. With them are 4th District Councilman Gary Donovan, Park-Rec Pool and Waterfront Coordinator Margaret Ruggiero and members of Miklos’ family. (City Photo/Michael P. Walsh)
