Family matriarch crosses ocean swim off bucket list
Family matriarch crosses ocean swim off bucket list
Star News Group, Manasquan, NJ; by Alex Dyer; 10/3/24
Dorothy Jean “Dot” Temple ventured into the rough surf, her arms supported by loved ones, her feet tickled by sea foam and soft sand. Wading in the ocean is an ordinary pleasure. But on this day, it was special for Temple and for everyone who came to watch her enjoy the water. At age 93, it’s no longer an easy task for Temple to indulge in her love of ocean swimming, an activity in which she had excelled for a majority of her life. ... Dot was recently admitted to the hospital, where the family was not “sure if she would survive the night.” Afterwards, she was put on hospice, where she was advised to cease her medication. “We were heartbroken at the prospect of possibly losing her, but in typical Nanny fashion…she is holding her own and is still doing great — all things considered,” said Gasetel. “A strong-headed woman, she has been very vocal that before she passes, she absolutely must go swimming in the ocean one more time; so that’s exactly what we did.”