Cape May, NJ - To most, Columbus Day (October 14th), means parades and other celebrations commemorating the voyage of Christopher Columbus to discover the new world in 1492. But for people living in Cape May, it's also a day to remember a friend, husband and fellow firefighter.

Cape May Fire Lieutenant Andy Boyt was a life-long resident of Cape May, a community he loved. He joined the Cape May Fire Department as a volunteer in 1991 and became a paid firefighter/EMT eight years later, before eventually rising to the rank of lieutenant. During that time he also became the Deputy OEM Coordinator for the City of Cape May, as well as a founding member of the county Urban Search and Rescue Team.

Lt. Boyt was just 45-years-old when he suffered a fatal heart attack just hours after a fire call on October 3, 2011.

Living nearby the Atlantic Ocean, Lt. Boyt loved surfing. Cape May Fire Chief Alex Coulter, along with Andy's friends Chad DeSatnick and Aaron Rothwell, wanted to honor Lt. Boyt's memory and decided that a paddle-out would be the perfect way to do so. Word spread quickly about the event throughout the seaside community, and Flying Fish Studios, a local T-shirt company, designed special shirts for it with all the proceeds going to local charities in Lt. Boyt's honor.

A week after his passing, Lt. Boyt's family and friends gathered on Steger's Beach for the very first memorial paddle-out to celebrate his life.

“Individuals paddle out on their surfboard or paddle board with loose flowers,” Michelle Boyt, Lt. Boyt's widow explained. “They then get into a circular formation, hold hands and pray, then raise their hands skyward and toss the flowers into the center of the circle."

After the success of the first paddle-out, Mrs. Boyt knew that this would become an annual fundraiser event. “I need to give back,” she said. Mrs. Boyt talked to Sue Lotozo, the owner of Flying Fish Studios who designed the T-shirts, and together they decided that the sales of the T-shirts would be donated to the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation.

“With the help of family and friends, we collected $2,130 in donations for the NFFF that year,” said Mrs. Boyt.

Since then, the Lt. Andy Boyt Memorial Paddle Out has transformed into the Paddle Out and Pasta Fundraiser, with family, friends and supporters gathering every year at the VFW Post 386 in Cape May. Local businesses, such as Uncle Bill's Pancake House, donate the ingredients while Scott Nash, a close friend of Andy's, pulls the menu together every year. "Old School", a local band made up of retired school teachers and friends of Andy's, play at the event every year. Numerous local businesses also donate their goods and services for an auction.

In 2018, with the help of Cape May resident John Van de Vaarst, the Andy Boyt Memorial Fund became a non-profit organization. The fund has donated almost $100,000 to the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation! This year, the fund partnered with the Cape May Community Food Closet and held its first-ever Andy Boyt Memorial Food Drive around the Fourth of July.

Lt. Boyt's spirit is certainly alive in Cape May!

For more information and/or to donate, please visit: https://andyboytmemorialfund.com/

Donations can be mailed to: Andy Boyt Memorial Fund, PO Box 252, Cape May, NJ 08204