A Remembrance of Art Fisette

A remembrance of our father as told to me by my brothers – Gary and Larry Fisette

By Janine Fisette

2004

Our father- Art Fisette loved Laguna Beach, the ocean and the people of Laguna and this was reflected in his establishing many of the lifeguard programs for the community. He was one of the early Chief Lifeguards and was instrumental in purchasing the first lifeguard jeep, paddleboards and rubber rescue tubes. His love of Laguna and the beach was reflected in his desire in making the waters safe. He did this by implementing the Sea Cubs and Mermaids youth programs that still exist today and are very popular as a service to our community and the safety of the youth around the sea.

He also gave talks and demonstrations to the Women’s Club and other local social organizations about mouth-to-mouth resuscitation and emergency heart message “CPR”. These were new techniques at the time. Gary recalls being brought along for demonstration purposes.

Dad was an avid reader of the newspaper, the Laguna Newspost. There he read an article regarding Claremont College, how it had won the Nationals for Junior Colleges. He went to the college and asked to speak with the swim coach, and then he asked the swim coach if he could speak to the swimmers. He talked to the swimmers about becoming lifeguards in Laguna Beach. Inviting them to come and apply and how they would be tested in things like the run-swim-run. Dad had previously, both before and after the war, been a beach lifeguard in Los Angeles County. He had also coached the Wolf brothers who won Gold Metals in the Olympics.

Some of the swimmers that he drew from out of town were: Tim Davis, John Cunningham, Jim Herdman, Paul Golfos, and Dale Ghere. These fine athletes created a new standard.

Many of them did not have a place to stay so they moved into our guesthouse. We had the best looking guys in town sleeping on our floor and they had the best looking girls trying to go out with them.

Some of the guards became teachers, got married and then became our teachers. Now they are our town fathers and they are loved.

Art Fisette was the Chief Lifeguard in 1959 and 1960.