Longtime Ocean City Beach Patrol Lieutenant Edward “Ward” Kovacs Dies

OCEAN CITY, Md. — The Town of Ocean City announced the death of longtime Beach Patrol Lieutenant Edward “Ward” Kovacs, a veteran lifeguard whose decades of service left a lasting mark on the coastal community.

City Manager Terry McGean said in a statement that Kovacs, who began his career with the Ocean City Beach Patrol in the early 1980s, dedicated his life to protecting residents and visitors along the town’s shoreline.

Throughout his tenure, Kovacs was known for his commitment to public safety, as well as his compassion and mentorship. Officials said he guided and influenced generations of young lifeguards, serving as both a leader and role model.

“Ward’s leadership, kindness, and steady presence made a lasting impact not only within the Beach Patrol, but across the entire Town of Ocean City organization,” McGean said.

Kovacs’ death has left a deep sense of loss across the community, officials said.

Town leaders, including the mayor and City Council, extended their condolences to Kovacs’ family, friends and colleagues, noting he would be “truly missed and fondly remembered.”