Friday, April 22, 2005
Last Tuesday
A memorial will be held this Saturday, April 23
for Stephen Douglas Davies, a.k.a. "Surfdawg",
who passed away Tuesday evening, surrounded
by family and friends. He was 48 years of age.
Born on June 14, 1956 in Roanoke, Virginia, the
family moved to Huntington Beach, California
where Stephen attended public school and the
beach. When he wasn't surfing The Wedge and
shooting the pier, young Surfdawg competed
in state chess tournaments at the expert level,
was state champion his sophomore year, played
on the varsity water polo team for four years, and
graduated from Marina High in 1974. During
his teenage years, Stephen achieved his Star
rank in the Boy Scouts, and because of his out-
standing character, was elected by his fellow
scouts into the Order of the Arrow.
Stephen enlisted in the Navy in 1974, became a
meteorologist, and was stationed at Lakehurst
Naval Air Station, N.J., then in Bangor, Maine, and
finally at Fleet Weather Central in Guam. He was
married to Karen Moorefield while in the service.
Upon leaving the Navy with an honorable discharge
in 1978, Stephen worked on tuna boats in the South
Pacific. He eventually started a small import/export
business dealing in oriental art while living in Guam.
Returning to Monterey in 1981, Stephen continued
to develop his career in computer science. He
moved to Tulsa, Oklahoma for a position with
Amarada Hess, but because of the lack of surf,
he returned here to Redwood Estates.
The County of Santa Cruz hired Stephen in 1989,
where he demonstrated his selfless dedication as a
systems analyst on the county's computer network for over
fifteen years . He was a devoted member to his union,
SEIU Local 415, with whom he worked hard to improve
employment conditions of his fellow workers.
Stephen's community benefited greatly from his incognito
commitment to the Santa Cruz Police department,
the Surfrider Foundation, and the Pleasure Point Night
Fighters. An avid listener and supporter of KPIG radio,
Stephen began his career as the "Surfdawg" and religiously
gave the local surf report almost every weekday morning.
Always witty and charming, and ever the gentleman,
Stephen thoroughly enjoyed his life and home on
his sailboat "Phoenix" in the Santa Cruz Harbor. He
played his mandolin and sang many songs that he
loved, alongside his company of good friends. His
career as a musician was highlighted with the band
Wite Surfer Trash, who played many area festivals and
even a gig at the Catalyst nightclub.
Stephen is survived by his mother and father,
Florine and Howard Davies of Coeur d'Alene,
Idaho; his four brothers Robert, Morris ("Chip"),
Raymond, and James; and his three sisters Carolyn,
Jennifer, and Deborah.
During his fight with cancer, Stephen made it known
that his remains would be donated to Stanford for
medical research. Contributions may be made to
the Stanford University Medical Center, and/or to
the Hospice Caring Project of Santa Cruz.
The memorial "Dawg-Paddle Out" will begin at 10:00 a.m.
at the Santa Cruz Harbor Beach, near the volleyball
courts and catamarans, and will continue through the
day. You won't want to miss it. Just a tip . ..
for Stephen Douglas Davies, a.k.a. "Surfdawg",
who passed away Tuesday evening, surrounded
by family and friends. He was 48 years of age.
Born on June 14, 1956 in Roanoke, Virginia, the
family moved to Huntington Beach, California
where Stephen attended public school and the
beach. When he wasn't surfing The Wedge and
shooting the pier, young Surfdawg competed
in state chess tournaments at the expert level,
was state champion his sophomore year, played
on the varsity water polo team for four years, and
graduated from Marina High in 1974. During
his teenage years, Stephen achieved his Star
rank in the Boy Scouts, and because of his out-
standing character, was elected by his fellow
scouts into the Order of the Arrow.
Stephen enlisted in the Navy in 1974, became a
meteorologist, and was stationed at Lakehurst
Naval Air Station, N.J., then in Bangor, Maine, and
finally at Fleet Weather Central in Guam. He was
married to Karen Moorefield while in the service.
Upon leaving the Navy with an honorable discharge
in 1978, Stephen worked on tuna boats in the South
Pacific. He eventually started a small import/export
business dealing in oriental art while living in Guam.
Returning to Monterey in 1981, Stephen continued
to develop his career in computer science. He
moved to Tulsa, Oklahoma for a position with
Amarada Hess, but because of the lack of surf,
he returned here to Redwood Estates.
The County of Santa Cruz hired Stephen in 1989,
where he demonstrated his selfless dedication as a
systems analyst on the county's computer network for over
fifteen years . He was a devoted member to his union,
SEIU Local 415, with whom he worked hard to improve
employment conditions of his fellow workers.
Stephen's community benefited greatly from his incognito
commitment to the Santa Cruz Police department,
the Surfrider Foundation, and the Pleasure Point Night
Fighters. An avid listener and supporter of KPIG radio,
Stephen began his career as the "Surfdawg" and religiously
gave the local surf report almost every weekday morning.
Always witty and charming, and ever the gentleman,
Stephen thoroughly enjoyed his life and home on
his sailboat "Phoenix" in the Santa Cruz Harbor. He
played his mandolin and sang many songs that he
loved, alongside his company of good friends. His
career as a musician was highlighted with the band
Wite Surfer Trash, who played many area festivals and
even a gig at the Catalyst nightclub.
Stephen is survived by his mother and father,
Florine and Howard Davies of Coeur d'Alene,
Idaho; his four brothers Robert, Morris ("Chip"),
Raymond, and James; and his three sisters Carolyn,
Jennifer, and Deborah.
During his fight with cancer, Stephen made it known
that his remains would be donated to Stanford for
medical research. Contributions may be made to
the Stanford University Medical Center, and/or to
the Hospice Caring Project of Santa Cruz.
The memorial "Dawg-Paddle Out" will begin at 10:00 a.m.
at the Santa Cruz Harbor Beach, near the volleyball
courts and catamarans, and will continue through the
day. You won't want to miss it. Just a tip . ..
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