For those of you who knew and loved Dean like us, I thought I should share some of my thoughts and observations during our recent trip to Rincon for Dean's Celebration of Life services. It was a beautiful day at the beach and hundreds of Dean's friends and relatives showed up for the surf Paddle out and park services. Both Dean and Terri Libbrecht were loved by everyone and we all will miss them a huge amount.

Dean and I have been communicating almost daily via email regarding surfing and the Maxfield Parrish art that I sell through my website antiquesnart.com. Dean was extremely excited about the 2 art pieces I found for him a couple weeks ago, and he wanted to know everything about Maxfield Parrish art, and the history of his rare prints. Just two days before his passing we talked for awhile about surfing, and I told him that my bird Mo and I attended the US Open Surfing Championship the past 2 weekends in Huntington Beach. A storm in in the South Pacific reached our coast in perfect time for the Open with some waves reaching 15 feet while hitting the bottom of the Pier. Surfers were shooting the HB Pier, and it was the first time they used jet-skis to both catch the waves at high speed, and get a fast ride back out again through high surf. Dean said he was ready to jump on his bike with his board and check out the surf 5 blocks away. We spoke briefly about the Channel Islands and Dean was going to visit the one with all the caves. Dean also told me he enjoys surfing with his son Geoff, and that his son is a good guitar player. We talked about Gibson Guitars ( I use to have an 1982 Gibson Les Paul Custom and Geoff plays a Gibson), and a tool we invented and marketed worldwide for Guitar players called a "Roadie Rench", and Dean wrote down the information to purchase as one as a gift for Geoff. It was really nice to see Dean's son Geoff play his Gibson guitar with other beach band musicians singing the blues for Dean to open his services in the park. However, My bird Mo (Umbrella Cockatoo who likes concerts in the park) wanted to keep dancing and making laughing sounds even after the music stopped when they were leading us in prayer. 

I am glad I got to spend a lot of time with Dean at our last reunion, and the Celebration of Life for Terri last month. We both always congratulate each other and laugh about the fact we are like Dinosaurs now days because we both are non cell phone people.

Dean's older brother shared his thoughts with everyone at the services regarding him needing a Kidney and Dean offered one of his kidneys, but is was not compatible. Doctors than discovered that Dean's Cholesterol level was too high and recommended medication or an exercise program. I was happy to talk with Dean's brother Steve Johnson who I think helped inspire us to become surfer because Steve was a couple years older than us was already a good surfer when we were beginners. We lost track of Steve after high school because he moved to the North Shore of Hawaii. Steve was the TCHS football team Running Back on the Rams Varsity between Bob (Reb) Brown and Dave Skelley, but injured his knee in high school.

Rick gave a positive inspirational speech while talking about old times with Dean at Saint Lukes, High School football teams, etc.

Steve Libbrecht spoke about their great old times with Dean when they were room mates at Cal State Long Beach.

Glenn Martin (website: www.surfingart.com) talked about their many surfing adventures including Shark Cove and Little Harbor on the back side of Catalina Island where we learned to surf in the 1960's.  Glenn was exhausted from lack of sleep after leaving his Nicaragua beach property early to make it back here in time for the services. Glenn surfed Rincon with Dean when he worked the annual art show at the local Avocado Festival.

Rincon surfing area was practically closed all morning for Paddle Out services, and many surfers with their boards lined the beach a long distance before making the traditional circle in the water.  Some swimmers like Crystal Drysdale followed them out without a surf board.