By Sarah Fertsch
Staff Writer
Robert Lukasiewicz wakes up every morning in the summer with two missions in mind: bless his family and sell ice cream.
The 59-year-old from Somers Point spends six hours a day, six days a week in peak season, pulling a 300-pound cart overflowing with ice cream. He logs 35 miles per week walking the entire length of the Ventnor beach, serving families ice-cold treats.
The former marine (serving between 1981 and 1985) found work in the ice-cream industry when his child reported that his teacher served ice cream during the summers. Lukasiewicz connected with the teacher during a parent-teacher cookout, and when he learned more about the pay, freedom and opportunity, he decided to take the plunge.
Every morning (except Wednesdays) Lukasiewicz wakes up and prepares for a 12-hour workday. He restocks his freezer-cart with Jack & Jill products (which he purchases from the wholesale store in Egg Harbor Township) and puts on his boots and “ice-cream uniform.” He makes sure that he has enough cash to make change, packs his city vendor permit, organizes nutritional information, drinks one cup of coffee, and drives over to Ventnor.
As Lukasiewicz pulls his cart, a chain reaction takes place of toddlers performing “ice-cream dances” out of sheer excitement. Parents line up to purchase water ice, popsicles and ice creams for their families.
“I used to serve ice cream in Atlantic City, but I prefer Ventnor because I love seeing happy kids. Besides, people at beach bars downing margaritas typically aren’t interested in ice cream,” said Lukasiewicz.
He is a family man through and through. He speaks often and lovingly about his wife of 23 years and his blended family of seven children. He has seven grandchildren and loves the opportunity to connect with them and teach them skills.
Embri Gould, Lukasiewicz’s 9-year-old granddaughter, has been crowned “the ice-cream man’s assistant.” When asked what her jobs include she said, “I hand out wooden spoons and take rides on top of the rolling cart.”
“Some of my most fond memories are of growing up near Atlantic City, and learning to swim from my father,” said Lukasiewicz. “It brings me so much joy to have these special moments with Embri, because I know that it will stick with her for a lifetime.”
The ice-cream man believes that every person he interacts with matters. Before every shift, Lukasiewicz prays for the people on the beach, that they will be safe and be blessed by the Divine.
“I consider it a miracle that in the 17 years I have been serving ice cream, I have seen a generation of kids grow up and head to college. It’s like I have my own little niche in history,” said Lukasiewicz.
In the off-season, Lukasiewicz continues to serve the public by working as a deliveryman for DoorDash. The ice-cream man said he has been studying wholesale real estate for a long time and hopes to eventually work in that field.
Hauling ice cream is a physically demanding job, so Lukasiewicz looks forward to sitting in front of a computer to earn money at some point in the future.
For now, you can find Robert Lukasiewicz on the Ventnor beach, smiling as he hands children frozen classics and high-quality desserts. He thanks his wife for being so supportive and listening to his tall tales of hungry families along his routes.
“I am so happy that I get to enjoy God’s creation and be in a relaxing environment every day, working for my own little dream,” he said.
