SURFAID NEWS

Source:  SurfAid International - www.surfaidinternational.org

SurfAid family pays tribute to Dick Baker
The SurfAid family is very saddened to hear of the passing of the Surf Industry Manufacturers Association (SIMA) longtime president and former SurfAid advisory board member, Dick Baker, after a two-year battle with cancer.

SurfAid USA Board Member, Santiago Aguerre, said that Dick played a key role in the effort to bring awareness of SurfAid to the surf industry.

“Dick gave his blessing and time from his lunch 'state of the union' speech in Cabo, Mexico, for a presentation on SurfAid. He was always there to counsel the organization and was part of the advisory board for many years.” Santiago further recalled, “Every person he touched felt good next to him, even as far away as the jungles of Indonesia. Dick Baker, here forever.”

SurfAid founder and Chief Executive, Dr. Dave Jenkins, expressed his deep sympathy to Dick’s family and the SIMA team.

“Dick gave me a special hug after last year’s Liquid Nation award and I have felt his warm presence recently in my thoughts.

He told me he was very proud of what surfing, SIMA and SurfAid have achieved together and that SurfAid was the most successful startup non-profit he had ever seen, surf or non-surf.

Dick’s legacy will echo on - both in the tens of thousands of lives he has helped us save and improve in surfing locations, and in the example of leadership he gave us all.”

Former SurfAid Chief Executive, Andrew Griffiths, said: “Dick was a great champion
for SurfAid, he was an instrumental figure in opening doors and providing advice and counsel to our young organization. His nurturing, support and donations of time and money will be felt for generations to come in the Mentawai and beyond. The energy and support that he was famous for has created a legacy that will be passed on to generations of Indonesians.”

SurfAid International Board member, Fernando Aguerre, called Baker “part father, part brother and part friend”.

“I feel like an orphan today,” Fernando said. “Yesterday a friend sent me a picture of Dick walking out of a SIMA board meeting in October carrying a pink surfboard he bought a week before [for charity]  . . for which he paid an exorbitant amount of money.”

Aguerre added. “And you knew he would never use it, but that's Dick for you. This world is divided into givers and takers, and Dick was a giver; a class-act person really comfortable with everybody from surfers, Hollywood fashion stars, everybody.”

SurfAid International Board member, Harry Hodge, said: “This is truly sad news. Dick Baker was one of the key people in bringing the surf industry together through SIMA. I personally worked with Dick when we set up EuroSIMA in Europe. The success of the European operation is largely due to Dick's generosity in giving his time, energy and experience. I spent a lot of time with Dick and above all he was a great guy. He will be sadly missed by the industry and his friends.”
Our sincere condolences to Dick’s family and friends.  May the memories keep Dick Baker with us always.

About the International Surfing Association (ISA)
The International Surfing Association (ISA) is recognized by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) as the World Governing Authority for surfing, bodyboarding and surfriding. It was originally founded as the International Surfing Federation in 1964 and has been running world championships since 1964 and the Junior World Championships since 1980.

ISA membership includes the surfing National Governing Bodies (NGBs) of over 50 countries on six continents. Its headquarters are located in San Diego, California. It is presided by Fernando Aguerre, first elected in 1994 in Rio, and re-elected six times since. The ISA's four Vice Presidents are Alan Atkins (Australia), Robin de Kock (South Africa), Mike Gerard (USA) and Karin Sierralta (Peru).

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