Aaron Ferretti, a long-time ocean lifeguard at Great Gun Beach and Davis Park and an officer with the Suffolk County Probation Department, passed away unexpectedly at 35.
The Patchogue resident was an avid surfer who traveled the world in search of challenging waves, including trips to Nicaragua, Morocco, and El Salvador. His water skills were a valuable asset at the Brookhaven Town ocean beaches that he patrolled. He devoted his life to helping others and was a calm, reassuring presence among the probation office staff and their clients.
One of his hobbies was searching for gold with his family, having frequented various gold-rich areas. He also enjoyed skateboarding, fishing, diving, and other water sports. The Rocky Point graduate studied criminal justice at SUNY Oneonta.
“He was the best waterman we knew,” said a friend, Frank Mancini, of Shirley. “He was physically strong, a great swimmer, well trained in ocean rescue. We knew every time we were out there with him, we were safe.”
“Aaron was my friend in the water and on the beach. The day was always much better when he was around,” said Robert Chartuk, a South Shore Press staff writer who knew him well. “He was truly a dedicated surfer who always went out, even if it was too big for the rest of us. He would stay out longer than anyone else--always the first one in and the last one out. There will never again be a day at the beach when I won't think of his kind, wonderful soul.”
A GoFundMe page set up by his family far exceeded funeral service costs at Giovi in Selden, with the additional funds, made possible through donations from nearly 250 of his family, friends, and associates, will be given to a charity aimed at suicide prevention and awareness. His cremains will be returned back to the ocean that he loved.