Paddle Out Celebration of Life

Our new friend Tony Hicks recently died. We hadn’t known him long, but his spirit was vibrant and he was always supportive and positive. So it came as a shock to the community who knew him when we found out that he had had a heart attack while knee boarding and died shortly thereafter. Tony had written a book/ebook called the Pillars of Progress about achieving your highest potential and I truly believe he was living in his.

Bk and Tony2Britton and Tony jamming at an open mic at Dulcis Vita Coffee Shop during a Thursday Art Walk

This weekend we went to a Paddle Out celebration of his life at Domes Beach in Rincón. Paddle out ceremonies are often done for surfers and other water sport enthusiasts like Tony. It was so beautiful and a great reflection of him and we are grateful to have known him. Please keep his wife and family in your thoughts.

Board Headstone
Flowers adorn his kneeboard

Circle in the water

A group with boards paddle out to release his ashes in a circle into the water

Group on the beachWe have such a wonderful community!

Paddle Out bonfire
We enjoyed music and a bonfire as the sun set

It was one of the most beautiful send-offs I think I have ever been a part of and we will miss Tony greatly.

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12 thoughts on “Paddle Out Celebration of Life

  1. Maria

    Very beautiful send off. Everyone there seems to be so at home together with each other. I hope that we find a great community also.

    Reply
  2. Reinaldo

    Is dumping the ashes of love ones on the beach the new hippie surfer gringo tradition? i bet they don’t do it where they are from exactly New yORK and New Jersey areas

    Reply
  3. adolfojp

    Reinaldo, you’re being disrespectful for the sake of being disrespectful. Your comment hurts no one but yourself.

    Reply
  4. Cassie Post author

    Reinaldo,
    Yes, please respect the deceased as well as their loved ones and their right to choose however best to celebrate the life or mourn in their own way. As I mentioned in the post, the ashes were released into the sea as Tony/his family had desired and I believe this is a common practice many places in the world.

    Reply
  5. Linda

    Actually Reinaldo we do exactly that in NJ and NY. I can’t tell you how many paddle outs I’ve attended over the years where the surfers form a circle and ashes are spread. Wonderful closure for a life lived to the fullest. My father in law’s ashes were spread this way over 20 years ago. You need to get out a little more Reinaldo, you don’t seem to know much about the culture.

    Reply
  6. Reinaldo

    Linda what is your point in your statement? don’t know what your trying to say or put it this way . what do you want me to do? do you want me to hang whist these gringos on this blog and embrace this surfing tradition with a bottle of Jack D anield or want an apology for past comments . An apology won’t happened because don’t have to and never did anything wrong. Hanging with these hippies surfers in Rincon maybe if ii hang out with bikers MC hanging with these people and using the beach as a funeral site next time will be something new for me

    Reply
  7. Reinaldo

    Linda, you don’t know me , once know me ypul be surprised about loyalty and honesty and fun you get. Itseems you are old white baby boomer last breed or last gringo in Rincon that want to be isolated and look for inner peace from creepy new things or new traditions

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  8. Linda

    Once again, you make no sense Reinaldo. Lets leave Britton and Cassie’s blog to some useful comments. Which, by the way Britton and Cassie, I can’t imagine the mangos you guys must be collecting right now. That tree was so loaded with fruit, your casita is going to drown in them!! Kitty is going to have a good time chasing rats, mice and iguana’s! Take some pictures!

    Reply
  9. Monique

    Shock rippled through my body as I read Tony’s passing. My heart gripped tighter remembering the recent loss of my husband who passed on via scuba diving accident this year. There are no words to console Michelle or myself, but there can be moments that both Phil and Tony show everyone to focus on joyous moments to live life to its fullest. As they did.

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