For many, retirement means slowing down, but for Ocean City resident Vincent Malfitano, it has meant anything but. The retired prosecutor and former Ocean City lifeguard has turned his retirement years into a time of exploration, creativity, and meaningful connections that range from the sandy beaches of Ocean City to the classrooms of rural Tanzania, and onto the pages of three freshly released novels.
Malfitano grew up in a large, bustling household where there was always a crowd of kids, a story to tell, or a reason to laugh. His roots in Ocean City run deep, with childhood summers spent on its beaches, years working as a lifeguard, and countless days spent with family and friends in the town he now calls home full-time.
After decades in the high-stakes world of criminal law, including serving as a Grand Jury Chief and career prosecutor, Malfitano came back to the shore town he learned to love in order to retire by the beach. But while he considers himself a now-proclaimed surf bum, he isn’t just sitting on the sandy shore and kicking back. With his free time, while enjoying retired life after such a successful and busy career, he stumbled upon a new passion: writing.
This year alone, Malfitano has released three novels, each distinct yet bound together by his gift for storytelling and his love of unreal twists and turns. His books include “Sir Floppy is Dead, and Mr. Boots Murdered Him,” a quirky mystery with a young protagonist; “The Tragedy of Tristan and Isolde,” a reimagining of a timeless story with teenage characters; and “Ocean City, New Jersey: America’s Greatest Family Resort,” which explores the lives of locals and secrets against the backdrop of his beloved town.
What makes Malfitano’s writing stand out is his unique voice full of quirks, dark humor, and surprise endings that challenge readers but leave them feeling hopeful.
“My goal is to shock readers with unseen twists and to make them think about new ideas,” he explained. “I love hearing people say there’s nothing else like my books out there.”
He writes characters who feel real, who are flawed, funny, and deeply human. It’s a style that resonates with readers looking for stories that feel both surprising and familiar.
But even after his literary debut, Malfitano hasn’t limited his adventures to just the words on the pages. This past winter, for three months, he set sail on an unexpected journey that took him far from our shores.
Malfitano had the opportunity to teach in a small Catholic school in rural Tanzania, Africa. The opportunity came about by chance during a casual conversation with a friend of a friend.
“It was just dumb luck, honestly,” he recalled. “I wasn’t interested in a safari, but I told him I’d love to help build, clean, or teach — and he said, ‘Alright, let’s get you teaching over there.’”
From January through March, Malfitano taught in a remote village, experiencing firsthand the warmth and resilience of the local community.
“It was very different from what I’d known, but the people were peaceful, modest, thrifty, and just great,” he said. “I learned while there that there are differences between people everywhere, and similarities, but overall that there is good in people all over the world.”
He reminisces on his time in Tanzania, saying it was an incredible experience he was lucky and blessed to be able to do.
Now, back from that wild adventure, he’s currently working on a new novel that will blend fiction with the real-life stories of the children he met and the classrooms he taught in, capturing the vibrancy, challenges, and hope he witnessed during his time there.
For Malfitano, retirement isn’t a time to look back, but rather a chance to keep moving forward, to create, and to connect. He hopes his story inspires others, too.
“Taking chances is good,” he reflected. “No one was ever on their deathbed happy they didn’t take those chances.”
As summer returns to Ocean City, Malfitano’s story reminds us all that adventure and creativity can find us at any age. So, take chances, experience everything you can, and remember to take it all in for as long as you can!
