Spencer Korwin, former Team USA triathlete, drowns on Shelter Island

Spencer Korwin, a 38-year-old former Team USA triathlete and Manhattan resident, drowned while swimming in the Shelter Island Sound last Wednesday. Korwin, a father of two, entered the water for a morning swim near The Pridwin Hotel while on vacation with his family.

Following an eight-hour search involving the Coast Guard and multiple local police departments, a Southold dive team recovered his body from beneath a hotel dock. Local officials noted that weather conditions were not unusual at the time of the incident. The tragedy has prompted Shelter Island Police Chief Jim Read to issue water safety advisories, reminding the public that open waters involve unpredictable tides, currents, and boat traffic.

During a funeral service held at Temple Israel on New York City’s Upper East Side, Korwin’s widow, Carly, delivered an emotional tribute to her husband. She described him as an extraordinary father and husband. Korwin was a Syracuse University graduate who represented the United States at the 2012 triathlon World Championship in New Zealand.