Los Angeles County Lifeguards and Firefighters gathered at the Los Angeles County Lifeguard Training Headquarters in Manhattan Beach on Tuesday, August 1, for a flag ceremony in honor of Steve Troeger.
The 31-year lifeguard veteran passed away in January 2023 from colon cancer at age 63. The ceremony was delayed because of the pandemic.
Troeger spent most of his career as the Baywatch captain on Catalina Island. Fellow lifeguard and lifelong friend Brooks Bennett said Troeger was arguably the most skilled Baywatch captain to have ever served.
“With all due respect to the many captains and skippers of Baywatch for LA County, I can say that Stephen was probably the best one,” Bennett said. “He knew surfing, he knew waves, he knew swimming, his water IQ was super high, and he was probably the best boatman the county ever had.”
Following the presentation of the flag to the family, the Baywatch boats waiting offshore sped away in the missing man formation.
Troeger is survived by his wife Kathy and daughters Montana, Saralyn, and Kirra.
