Pa. woman's body found in Sea Isle

A Conshohocken woman in Sea Isle City for Polar Bear Plunge festivities was found dead Sunday morning in frigid water near Ludlam Bay, authorities said.

Tracy Hottenstein, 35, was discovered by a passerby about 7:50 a.m. at the Sea Isle City Marina at 42d Place.

Officials have not released a cause of death, and were awaiting results of an autopsy conducted yesterday. They have not indicated whether they consider the death to be suspicious.

Hottenstein was at the Cape May County resort for the Polar Bear Plunge, according to the Cape May County prosecutor's office. The annual charity event and weekend-long celebration drew thousands to the area to watch participants dash into the Atlantic Ocean. It is not clear whether Hottenstein joined in Saturday's plunge or was a spectator.

Liliane Baron, who lives in the 300 block of East 10th Avenue in Conshohocken, next to the two-story home Hottenstein shared with a roommate, described her neighbor as an "all-American girl," pretty with blue eyes and dark blonde hair.

Her smile "cheered up the whole neighborhood," Baron said of Hottenstein, who ran several local 5K charity road races in recent years.

"Everything about Tracy was positive and polite," said Baron, wiping tears from her eyes with a tissue. "She had the nicest attitude. She was an absolute gem."

Baron said Hottenstein worked for a pharmaceutical firm, but was unsure of her occupation.

The women shared a love of gardening, Baron said. Hottenstein asked Baron for advice, and the two swapped home-grown produce. They also bonded over their cats.

Hottenstein often decorated her yard and back porch, Baron said, and recently put up a string of electric stars that she turned on at night.

"She was a bright, bright spirit," said Baron. "It's heartbreaking."

Hottenstein had a group of close male and female friends, Baron said. They went on picnics and frequently went to the Shore, both in summer and winter.

This year marked the 15th weekend-long Polar Bear Plunge. Participants were charged a $25 registration fee, which went to benefit the Sea Isle City Revitalization Committee and projects such as the Sea Isle City Trolley.

The plunge took place at 2 p.m. Saturday, with swimmers wearing bathing suits and costumes. The festivities continued with a post-plunge party at the LaCosta Lounge that included a buffet and awards ceremony. The event was scheduled to run until 8 p.m.

Hottenstein's friends told Baron the group was having cocktails at an unidentified a bar in Sea Isle City on Saturday night when they noticed Hottenstein was missing. When they couldn't find her, Baron said they told her, they called police.

"They didn't even know she stepped out," Baron said. "There was no evidence that anything was wrong."

Baron said she last saw her neighbor during last week's snowstorm when she snapped some photos of Hottenstein shoveling.

"The worst thing is not knowing what happened," Baron said.