My father died just before 2 a.m. this morning. He was within sight of his 97th birthday, which would have rolled around December 7.
My sister, Bonnie, got the news to the web early this morning on her blog.
We spent yesterday at his bedside after his condition worsened, but gave up the vigil by early evening. He was not expected to live through the afternoon, but did. Even at the end, he displayed surprising strength, although by now it was a burden and not a blessing.
He made quite a mark in the world of Hawaii ocean sports after arriving in the islands in 1939. He was a founder of the Hawaii Surfing Association, a founder and first president of the Waikiki Surf Club, and a founder of the Makaka Surfing Championships. He headed the Waikiki Surf Club through most of its first decade. He believed in amateur sports, and I don’t think he ever warmed to the idea of surfing becoming a professional enterprise.
I quickly grabbed a few photos that I think he would enjoy seeing again. That’s him surfing in Long Beach, California, in 1938, when he spearheaded organizing of the First National Surfing Championship at a surf spot later wiped out by construction of the Long Beach breakwater. His board had been built by the father of his close friend, Myron Brejcha, who was a Long Beach city official.
The middle photo was a Christmas card sent out by my parents around 1940. They’re walking on Kahala Beach with my mother’s dog, Kiki.
The bottom photo was taken on the beach in Waikiki, early 1950s.
![[text]](http://www.ilind.net/oldkine_images/lbsurf1938/source/image/05.jpg)
![[text]](http://www.ilind.net/images_2004/parents1214.jpg)
![[text]](http://ilind.net/oldkine_images/jml-beach-portrait.jpg)
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What what a full life he led! Thank you so much for sharing his life and last years with us.
BTW I often regret not following up on your suggestion back in 1978 when I moved to the Big Island to be your Dad’s representative on the island–that would have been a great job in so many ways.
Ian, you have my condolences on the loss of your dad and also many thanks for sharing part of him with all of us.
Aloha to all of you at this time.
I am very sorry for your loss. May happy memories be of comfort to you & your ohana.
How handsome and healthy he was! What an incredible life!
My condolences, Ian.
Such a full life. Hawaii is all the better for his having lived here. Mahalo for sharing all this with us — historical details thru this closure, the details of a life’s end. Condolences. RIP John Lind.
Get this info to the paper so they can do a proper obituary. My condolences.
Sorry for your loss. But happy for the good life he had.
Your father is fortunate to have you to celebrate and document his life. From your recounting, his life was one filled with vigor, aspiration, and success, and you and your family will, I hope, find peace and satisfaction in your memories of him.
We send our condolences. He had a full and exciting life. How fortunate to have some of it eloquently recorded y his son. We send our aloha.
This–images of him young and in swimsuits–is a beautiful tribute to a man who’s lived a rich life. My aloha to you and yours.
Ian, I am sorry for your loss. He put up a tough fight, maybe too tough. At least now there is no more suffering. Celebrate his life, you are who you are because of him. And that is saying a lot. Wishing you, your Mom, Bonnie, and Meda a peaceful, reflective, quiet weekend. And when it rains, those are angel tears. With much Aloha, Curtis.
Happy Sailing John! Mahalo for sharing your Dad’s extraordinary life with us, Ian. Please extend our condolences and aloha to your Mom.
Love to you and Meda…
Ian
Condolences to you and your family. Thank you for blogging your interaction with your father over the years. It really seems that he knew; referring to one of your last blogs about visiting him.
My condolences and aloha to all of you.
Thank you for sharing so much of his life and times with us.