At Blackie’s for a friend and a father

The place to be was Blackie’s by the Sea in Newport Beach as family and friends of the late great Butch Pope got together to remember Pope, who died of a heart attack in July at 56. They came to raise funds in Pope’s name for the Orange Coast College Foundation. More than $5,000 was donated toward support of a new German-made, Empacher racing eight-man shell for the OCC men’s crew team.

Pope was a member of the OCC men’s crew team in 1966, hence the new boat will be named the Butch Pope ’66. He left OCC and went on to UCLA, earning championship status at the university level. Pope was active in men’s crew as both a major volunteer and coach right up until his death.

OCC men’s crew head coach Larry Moore, who was on hand for the gathering, said, “Friends of Butch showed up with their wallets in hand.” Tom “Smitty” Smith hosted the Blackie’s event, with a little push from the Laker Girls who helped collect donations from friends including David Bradburne, Brad Smith, Buddy Richley, Frank Campbell and John Wortmann, all of Lido Isle.

Marilyn Pope, Butch’s widow, and Butch’s son, Chris, were on hand to represent the family. Also in the crowd was Ozario Salamone of the Newport Beach Brewery and surfer-actor Jimmy Knost.

Funds raised at the Blackie’s gathering will go toward the $45,000 total cost of the shell. OCC organizers hope to raise enough money to have the shell in the water by March.

To support the project in the memory of Butch Pope, call Tom Smith at (949) 683-4488.

* THE CROWD runs Thursdays and Saturdays.