Legendary Zuma lifeguards make breakfast for their fellow guards

By Judy Abel · Sat Aug 29 2026

The Heinrich brothers return to Malibu to celebrate camaraderie 

Between Ed, Jerry, and Dick Heinrich, these now-retired Malibu lifeguards have over 166 years of combined lifeguarding service at Zuma Beach. The Heinrich name is well-known for their service to the beach community and for starting a dynasty of lifeguards as each of their sons also became lifeguards at Zuma Beach, continuing the family tradition. Just a few years back, there were times when as many as seven Heinrich family members were patrolling Zuma Beach. The eldest, Ed Heinrich, even jokes, “There was a time you couldn’t throw a rock at Zuma without hitting a Heinrich!”

Even though the three patriarch Heinrich brothers are now retired, they returned to Zuma Lifeguard Headquarters on Sunday to cook breakfast for guards, past, present, and maybe even future as their fellow comrades brought their families, some with young children. This nearly annual pancake breakfast has become a tradition for the elder Heinrich brothers, who return to Malibu from retirement elsewhere to keep up with old friends and share stories of crowded summer days on the beach, helping the community navigate high waters, injuries, and past rescues.

As many as 100 lifeguards, family members, and even a few locals who’ve come to know the Heinrich family over the years showed up for breakfast, organized, purchased, and cooked by the three eldest brothers Ed, Jerry, and Dick, although Jerry did tease that while Dick cooked the pancakes over a grill and Jerry was on bacon duty, their brother Ed did most of the socializing.

It was Ed who was first to pass the rookie swim test in 1965 at age 18. He drove in from Glendora back then and slept in a bunkhouse at Zuma Headquarters back in the day. Excluding four years in the Air Force, Ed served for 57 years at Zuma.

In 1968, Jerry followed, serving 54 years. Youngest brother Dick followed in 1971 and also served roughly 50 years on the beach until a shoulder injury hastened his retirement. Dick proudly has a son, Kyle, who is a full-time Ocean Lifeguard Specialist in Malibu.

When the three Heinrich brothers received commendations from Los Angeles County two years ago, 3rd District Supervisor Lindsey Horvath announced that Ed, Jerry, and Dick contributed in more than 10,000 rescues.

There was plenty of reminiscing Sunday, including by Jerry, who recalled his own rescue 50 years ago by fellow guard Ben Wolfe. Remembering like it was yesterday, in great detail, Jerry reflected on the summer of ’76 when he ran into the surf to help a young woman who appeared to be in trouble. “The surf was high, we were in the drop zone and got hammered by waves as high as 15 feet,” he recalled. He told the young woman to hold her breath as the pair was getting knocked around by huge waves. They tumbled back to shore, but not before Jerry couldn’t stand up out of the water. He had torn his meniscus and Wolfe had to rescue him and drag him off the beach. Jerry recalled, though, that he still finished his shift, answering phones at headquarters. 

Ed said he and his brothers love to stay connected to their lifeguarding community past and present, to reminisce, meetingthe new lifeguards, and “maybe occasionally passing on a little bit of knowledge.” With over 10,000 rescues they have it in spades.

“It’s always kind of fun to get together,” said Jerry, who drove in from Glendora for the event. “Everybody starts telling stories and tales of either where they've been traveling to exotic places or more likely, some of the rescues and interesting stories that have happened on the beach. The breakfast brings out some of the old guards, some of the retirees, and some of the rookies and the first year guards, so getting them together is nice. And it kind of perpetuates the importance of family in the beach and the culture, establishing that and just everybody kind of having a good time together.

“ There's sort of an old saying at Zuma, Jerry Heinrich stated.  “Once a Zuma lifeguard, always a Zuma lifeguard.

“And there's a lot of truth to that,” he concluded.