Polar Bear Plunge 2009 participates

By BRIAN IANIERI Staff Writer | Posted: Wednesday, January 13, 2010 |

SEA ISLE CITY – Parents of a Pennsylvania woman who was very drunk when she died on the banks of the city’s marina in February want officials to better control alcohol consumption at the upcoming Polar Bear Plunge weekend.

Elizabeth and Charles Hottenstein addressed City Council on Tuesday night to read a statement regarding the death of their daughter Tracy Hottenstein, a 35-year-old pharmaceutical sales rep from Conshohocken, Pa..

Elizabeth Hottenstein criticized the city and its bars, saying that her daughter was visibly intoxicated but was still served alcohol that night, and that police did not patrol the marina area for the six hours her daughter’s body was on the ground there.

“We know that we most likely cannot stop the 2010 Sea Isle City Polar Bear Plunge,” the mother said. “But we implore you to make it a model of safety so that no other family will ever have to endure this pain. You simply must control and you have a duty to control the overconsumption of alcohol on this weekend.”

Tracy Hottenstein, who was in the city for the weekend but was not involved in the plunge itself, died accidentally of hypothermia from exposure and acute alcohol intoxication, according to the Southern Regional Medical Examiner’s Office.

Hottenstein was last seen alive leaving the Ocean Drive Bar and Restaurant on Landis Avenue at 2:15 a.m. on Feb. 15. A passer-by discovered her body on the muddy banks of the Sea Isle City Marina along 42nd Place at 7:50 a.m.

Authorities have said they believe she somehow fell into the water near the marina, got out of the bay and walked in her socks before she fell to the ground. She also had three fractured ribs. She was fully clothed when her body was discovered. Investigators found her pink hat and one her boots in the bay.

“Public safety means that persons who are intoxicated should not be allowed to wander the streets or be so intoxicated that they cannot walk unassisted through the central business (area) of this town,” Elizabeth Hottenstein said.

The city’s Polar Bear Plunge typically brings thousands to Sea Isle City in the middle of February, when the city would otherwise be relatively quiet.

Hottenstein’s parents did not answer questions following their statement to Sea Isle City Council.

After the meeting, Councilman Michael McHale said the city does have plans in place to have better control of the weekend’s activities and said some area bars have beefed up security.

This year’s Polar Bear Plunge is scheduled for Feb. 13.