Waving goodbye

Deepa Bharath

It was a fitting farewell for a man who had spent most of his life

riding the waves in Newport Beach.

Dustin Fox was only 20 years old. But the Newport Harbor High School

graduate, who died in a traffic incident near San Luis Obispo last week,

attracted people of all ages.

On Tuesday, many of those friends gathered on Newport Pier for a

Hawaiian paddle-out in Fox’s memory.

Friends and family described Fox as a happy person who touched many

lives. His father, Dennis Fox, said his son’s organs benefited seven

families.

“He was a very caring person and loved to help people,” he said. “His

ambition was to become a teacher and help students with learning

disabilities.”

The paddle-out, he added, is a way for his son’s friends to go through

the grieving process -- to get past something sudden and tragic.

Dustin Fox was a member of the Blackie’s Club, a local group for

longboard surfers. Several surfers in wetsuits crowded near the pier

Tuesday afternoon in preparation for the paddle-out.

Typically, during a paddle-out, surfers paddle out, form a circle in

the water, hold hands and pray for their departed friend, Mike Spence

said.

“We pass around a wreath to each one of the surfers in the circle,” he

explained. “Each one would say a few words about Dustin. Then we’d pluck

a flower from the wreath and throw it in the center of the circle.”

Spence, who had surfed in Newport Beach the last 46 years, said Fox

made quite an impression on him and others on the beach.

“He was a good kid,” he said. “He was friendly out in the water. He

wasn’t a wave hog. He had all the talent. What a waste.”

Dennis Fox said the paddle-out was the perfect memorial for his son

because he was more “spiritual” rather than religious.

Sean Kennedy, who attended Newport Harbor High with Dustin, also used

to go on trips with him to Mexico to off-road race.

“He was pure energy,” he said. “We’re going to miss him when we go

down there. After a race, when we’re just hanging out and he’s not there

-- it’s a place you just can’t fill.”

Brian Barker, also a Newport Harbor High graduate and one of Dustin

Fox’s best friends, said the paddle-out would give him a sense of

closure.

“It still seems so unreal,” he said. “It’s as if this would let me

know he’s in a better place. He’s probably riding perfect waves right

now.”

* Deepa Bharath covers public safety and courts. She may be reached at

(949) 574-4226 or by e-mail at o7 deepa.bharath@latimes.comf7 .