Dick Baker Memorial Paddle Out 0
Dick Baker never left the house without five pennies he carried in his pocket.
The first, he had since the day he married his wife Una. Two were added after his teenage boys, Jack and Ryan, were born. And there was one for his dog, Tucker.
Each penny was from the years his loved ones were born.
Those pennies were thrown into the ocean on Sunday afternoon, in the middle of a circle formed by hundreds sitting on their surfboards, during a traditional Hawaiian paddle out honoring Baker.
Baker, president of the Surf Industry Manufacturers Association, died mid-April after a two year battle with cancer. He was 62.
“He touched so many lives,” said Una. “So many people here, they want to hold on to that.”
Una – who would have celebrated 20 years married to Baker June 10 – said he was a strong-willed man with a great sense of humor who made friends wherever he went.
“Even someone he didn’t know, he knew how to make them comfortable,” she said. “He never judged a person, and he got to know their beauty, their strength.”
John Warner, former president of Quiksilver, said the gathering was a fitting tribute. Despite the fact that Baker didn’t surf, “he earned this honor and respect from the surfing world he loved so dearly.”
Before the paddle out, friends gathered in the park area to share stories of Baker, many drawing laughs – and tears – from the crowd.
Those who showed up at the memorial ranged from surfing industry top business leaders such as CEO of Quiksilver Bob McKnight and CEO of Billabong Paul Naude, to young entrepreneurs just starting out.
“He always made us feel as if we were just as important as any CEO of any major company,” said Dylan Odbert, who gained guidance from Baker as he and his brother Dustin launched Ambission Clothing.
Likewise, Candy Harris was just starting out in her career when she crossed paths with Baker. Through the years, he became and mentor, then a friend. He taught her many life lessons, such as the value of social responsibility.
“He was a cheerleader for our industry, a champion for so many causes,” said Harris, now vice president of marketing for Billabong’s women’s division.
Baker was involved in many non-profits and charities.
Jesse Billauer, founder of Life Rolls On, spoke about how he’d meet with Baker to get advice on running the non-profit.
But he learned so much more – how to be a good husband, father, and how to be a man.
“Let friends and family know how much they mean to you,” he said. “I hope I can touch as many lives as he has,” Billauer said.
As a testimony of how far his reach actually was, a large circle with a few hundred surfers formed offshore at Doheny State Beach. A surfboard covered in flowers was taken to float in the center of the ring of people.
Stories were shared, and tears flowed. At the end of the tribute, an Orange County Sherriff’s boat sprayed water, and the surfers splashed the ocean and hooted for their friend.
Baker had spent most of his time on the east coast before joining the Ocean Pacific team in 1997, helping to increase revenues to $250 million worldwide during his time as CEO. He continued on as president until 2007.
“He taught everybody about the business of surfing and everyone respected him,” said Bob Mignogna, who sits as a senior advisory board for SIMA. “I didn’t meet a guy who didn’t.”
But more than what he did for the industry, he’ll be remembered as a loving father who loved his family more than anything.
“He really was a mentor to all the people here. They all looked up to him, kind of in the same way me and my brother (Ryan) do,” said his son, Jack.
Some life lessons he taught his sons: Always respect people. Be considerate of other people and the way they do things.
For Fernando Aguerre, co-founder of Reef Brazil sandals, he’ll never forget three words Baker lived by: “Giving, giving, giving.”
