Wednesday, July 16 – Local Woman Dies On Boat Off New Jersey

OCEAN CITY – A well-known local woman lost her life last Friday in a mysterious accident aboard a boat in the Delaware Bay.

According to The Press of Atlantic City, Elizabeth Garliss, 39, was aboard the Soggy Dollar, a 52-foot cabin cruiser, when she apparently slipped and hit her head at 2:52 p.m. The U.S. Coast Guard reportedly received a call from a man, believed to be a relative, who said Garliss had a weak pulse and was not breathing.

A release from the Coast Guard indicated crews arrived on the scene and continued CPR. Garliss was immediately airlifted to Cape Regional Medical Center where she was pronounced dead.

New Jersey State Police have listed the incident as an unattended death, but major crimes detectives are examining the boat for evidence to confirm the story told by others on the boat that Garliss fell and began suffering seizures, The Press of Atlantic City reported.

The Garliss family is well-known in the greater Ocean City area, and Garliss’ father, Joe, has been a mainstay in the real estate industry for years.

Garliss, a graduate of Stephen Decatur High School and most recently employed with SoHo Fashions in West Ocean City, was best known for being an accomplished ice skater, leading and teaching an untold number of aspiring skaters at the Carousel Hotel over the years.

Among others, she is survived by her son, Austin Dundore of Ocean Pines.

A funeral service will be held on Friday, July 18 at 11 a.m. at St. Paul’s by the Sea Episcopal Church at 3rd St. and Baltimore Ave. in Ocean City. Friends may call on Thursday evening from 6-8 p.m. at the Burbage Funeral Home in Berlin. Interment will be in St. Paul’s Churchyard in Berlin.

In lieu of flowers donations may be made to St. Paul’s by the Sea Episcopal Church, PO Box 1207, Ocean City, Md. 21842.

For all the week’s news, see The Dispatch on Friday morning.

About The Author: Steven Green

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The writer has been with The Dispatch in various capacities since 1995, including serving as editor and publisher since 2004. His previous titles were managing editor, staff writer, sports editor, sales account manager and copy editor. Growing up in Salisbury before moving to Berlin, Green graduated from Worcester Preparatory School in 1993 and graduated from Loyola University Baltimore in 1997 with degrees in Communications (journalism concentration) and Political Science.