Setting an uplifting pace

ATLANTIC CITY - His day job is spokesman for the New Jersey Casino Control Commission, an agency that, as you may have heard, has four fewer casinos to control than it used to. But Dan Heneghan, 62, has an alter ego: Mr. Lighthouse. For nearly three years, Heneghan has made climbing to the top of Absecon Lighthouse his personal quest. Again and again, 228 steps each time, 77 times last year, more than 40 already this year. He's taken a novel way to commit to an exercise regimen and made it a kind of ambassadorship for the lighthouse, enlisting friends to sponsor him with $1 a climb, or, better yet, to join him. Built in 1857, the country's third-tallest lighthouse, at Rhode Island and Pacific Avenues, now has two closed casinos, Showboat and Revel, as its neighbors. Like a lot of Atlantic City, the lighthouse could use a little more cash, and a lot more people. The circular climb is a bit like climbing the south tower of Notre Dame in Paris, except with 159 fewer steps. The expansive view at the top is a good place to contemplate all that's gone right and wrong with Atlantic City. Aug. 7 is National Lighthouse Day, and musician-photographer John Mock will present a multimedia maritime concert from noon to 2 p.m. Children climb free that day (adults are $7, A.C. residents $3, and active military free). Don't miss out; the "Frisbee Lounge" on the two-acre lawn will be open all day. Heneghan talked about his quest on a recent four-minute trip up.

What number is this?

This is 44 since the first of the year. It was 77 last year. I didn't keep track the year before. It's probably in the neighborhood of 200.

This reminds me of Europe. I'm timing you.

This isn't my normal pace. Usually I run up the first two flights, rest on the third flight, trot up the second two, and I struggle with the last two.

I see the steps are numbered, and every step is sponsored (with a plaque).

They raise money selling steps.

So how did this madness start?

I wouldn't call it madness.

'He said, mopping his brow.'

I came over here two and a half years ago in January 2013 for a birthday party. For the lighthouse. They said, 'It's a party; you can climb for free.' I climbed the lighthouse, I had some birthday cake, and I thought, 'It's a birthday party; I should have a present.' So I wrote a small check as a donation. And they came back and gave me a membership card and said, 'You can climb as often as you want.'

I said, 'Oh, OK.' The next day, ever climbing this again was the furthest thing from my mind because my legs hurt. I heard my mother nagging in the back of my mind, 'It's free, you should do it.'

So I started going back and made this part of my normal exercise routine.

How often do you climb?

I started climbing about once a week. Last year while I was doing it, at one point Jean Muchanic (lighthouse executive director) put out another plea for money. So I challenged my friends on Facebook to donate a dollar every time I climbed. I've raised $1,600 or so.

You should have done a dollar a stair. It started out exercise, but you became like an ambassador.

My primary goal is exercise. But if I can also do something to help them out, and help out the city, it's kind of a mini-marketing campaign. I am trying to get someone to go with me as often as I can, show the world the lights are still on in Atlantic City, come have a great time.

So, has it changed you?

I'm certainly in better shape physically. My doctor has been very encouraging, very impressed with what I do.

Do you look at Atlantic City a different way, being up here so often? It does reinforce one thing: This is an island.

You can see the potential for the city. You see some of the improvements as they're coming along. This new park here is going to be very nice. It will really brighten up the neighborhood.

It's an amazing view. When you see things like this, this nice park, you see the city's really trying, and then everyone says such bad things about the place.

This is lovely. You have the tennis courts there. You get this three-block stretch going to the water, and once they replace the Boardwalk up here, which they say they're going to do . . ..

I remember when the Boardwalk went further.

So do I.

This reminds me of the old Inquirer Building when we moved out and everyone climbed up to the bell tower. Is it still a working lighthouse?

It's not. It was decommissioned in 1933. These were designed to keep ships out at sea, not guide them in.

What do you think about while you're walking?

Nothing real specific. It's a good time to clear my head. To not think about things. What do you think about while you're on the StairMaster?

I don't know; I get bored, I listen to music while I run. I work stuff out. And when I'm on my bicycle, sometimes story ideas come to me and then I have to stop and write them down.

What is it about this place that makes people obsessed with it?

There's a certain romantic lure of lighthouses. They're beacons to save people, protect people.

It's like flying a kite except you're the kite. What do you usually do at the top, do you pause?

When I get to the top, I usually sit down on that bench there and catch my breath. Because I go up a lot faster than we did today. I'll sit and talk to the volunteers up there.

Do most people even know this exists?

No. There are many taller structures in Atlantic City. This is the oldest structure in Atlantic City.

Are you going to continue this forever?

The real Mr. Lighthouse is 87 years old. He's one of the volunteers here: Buddy Grover. He's up here every Friday afternoon, he climbs this regularly.

Look at this lawn. It needs to become the Absecon Lighthouse and Beer Garden.

They'll have entertainment here on Lighthouse Day. [Editor's note: It's also BYOB and Frisbee friendly.]

I have to ask you the obligatory Bruce Springsteen lyric question about your employer: Is the gambling commission hanging on by the skin of its teeth?

I'm not going to address that.

(Interview condensed and edited).

arosenberg@phillynews.com

609-823-0453

@amysrosenberg

www.philly.com/downashore