Ending up in the same place he started

Jose Paul Corona

After working for the city for more than 30 years and earning the

title of marine safety chief, Steve Seim is going to be right back

where he started.

He will be back working part time for the city’s harbor patrol,

where he started at 19.

Seim, 52, will retire on Dec. 20, but he has agreed to work part

time developing a city-run harbor patrol. He worked for the harbor

patrol in 1973, before its duties were handed over to the county. He

will now help develop goals and objectives for a harbor patrol before

it again falls under the auspices of the city next year.

So although he’s retiring, he’s not leaving -- he’s just moving

on, he said.

“I’m not retiring to go to Montana,” Seim said. “I love it here,

it’s a nice way to slide into retirement.”

In his 30 years with the city’s marine safety division Seim has

seen a lot of things change. When he started as a seasonal lifeguard

back in 1968 things were much more rigid, he said.

“We were very militaristic back then,” he said. “We dressed in

full uniform. It was very strict.”

Now, lifeguards wear shorts and bathing suits. Khaki pants and

dark shoes are no longer required.

Seim worked his way up from seasonal lifeguard to marine safety

chief, the highest ranking office in the division, and in the process

has held just about every conceivable post.

Before moving to the administrative side of things he was a

lifeguard, a deckhand with the harbor patrol and a boat operator.

As he looks back on his long career it almost doesn’t seem real,

he said.

“I could never have envisioned it all,” Seim said.

The reality really hit home this year as he spoke to a group of

new lifeguards.

“Never in a million years did I think I would stand up and be

speaking to them,” he said.

Although he enjoyed heading up the marine safety division, he

misses the excitement of rescuing swimmers and helping those in

distress.

“Those were great days,” he said. “You come home exhausted, but

the satisfaction of that can’t be beat.”

Not only was Seim a good lifeguard, but he’s also been a good

administrator, Community Services Director Ron Hagan said.

“He’s been a dedicated employee,” Hagan said.

Seim is passionate about his work and has implemented many

programs and updated policies and procedures during his time with the

marine safety division, Hagan said.

“He’s very lucky that he’s gotten to work in his passions all

these years,” he said.