Bill Cleary - RIP
Robert R. Feigel
related to Parkinson's disease.
He was a dear, old friend and I will attempt to put together a
fitting tribute when I'm able.
bob
********
The art & the artists of New Zealand's Tutukaka Coast: <http://www.earthsea.co.nz>
Wax-up and drop-in of Surfing's Golden Years: <http://www.earthsea.co.nz/surfwriterintro1.htm>
Robert R. Feigel
in Montecito, California, two days after celebrating his 64th
birthday. He'd been battling Parkinson's disease for several years and
his heart just 'gave out'.
In the early sixties, Bill virtually introduced surfing to Spain,
France, Morocco and the Canary Islands. "Surfing Guide to Southern
California," the book he co-authored with David H. Stern in 1963 is
still considered the classic of its genre and a 25th Anniversary
edition was published in 1998.
Bill was editor of Surfguide Magazine, associate editor of Surfer
Magazine and wrote and co-wrote several books, including what I think
was the first work of fiction with a surfing theme (I can't remember
the title but hope someone here can).
In early 1972, Bill and I drove from Malibu to Costa Rica and back. It
was quite an adventure in those days and we were lucky to escape with
our lives on several occasions.
In 1974 we teamed up again for my first trip to New Zealand. Bill and
his first wife, Mary, had travelled around NZ in the sixties and we
wanted to visit some old Topanga Beach friends who'd moved down here
after hearing his description of the place. We bought an old Landrover
and, for the next few months, explored just about every surfing spot
from the north of the North Island right down to the East Cape. Good
memories, good times.
Bill is survived by his wife, Barbara, three children and two former
wives.
Rest in peace, my old friend.
Tom Keener
<rrfREMOVECAPS@remove_all_this_too_xtra.co.nzED> wrote:
>Surfing veteran, Bill Cleary, passed away on the evening of July 4th
>in Montecito, California, two days after celebrating his 64th
>birthday. He'd been battling Parkinson's disease for several years and
>his heart just 'gave out'.
Sorry to hear this.
>In the early sixties, Bill virtually introduced surfing to Spain,
>France, Morocco and the Canary Islands. "Surfing Guide to Southern
>California," the book he co-authored with David H. Stern in 1963 is
>still considered the classic of its genre and a 25th Anniversary
>edition was published in 1998.
I have a first edition. It says "Volume I". I wonder if there was a
Volume II?
As I look at the book, I see the first page is acknowledgments. And,
sure enough, right there among so many other great names of early
California surfing, is "Robert Feigel".
Tom Keener
email me if you want my email address
Robert R. Feigel
(Tom Keener) wrote:
>On Sun, 07 Jul 2002 15:59:13 +1200, Robert R. Feigel
><rrfREMOVECAPS@remove_all_this_too_xtra.co.nzED> wrote:
>
>>Surfing veteran, Bill Cleary, passed away on the evening of July 4th
>>in Montecito, California, two days after celebrating his 64th
>>birthday. He'd been battling Parkinson's disease for several years and
>>his heart just 'gave out'.
>
>Sorry to hear this.
>
>>In the early sixties, Bill virtually introduced surfing to Spain,
>>France, Morocco and the Canary Islands. "Surfing Guide to Southern
>>California," the book he co-authored with David H. Stern in 1963 is
>>still considered the classic of its genre and a 25th Anniversary
>>edition was published in 1998.
>
>I have a first edition. It says "Volume I". I wonder if there was a
>Volume II?
>
>Tom Keener
>email me if you want my email address
Tom - Thanks for your thoughtful response. My original SGSC is very
worn, so I've been using the latest edition for reference. I'm looking
at them both right now and there only appear to be a couple of major
differences visible.
The first is the front cover. The front of the new edition has a
yellow banner reading 1963 - 35th Anniversary Nostalgia Edition -
1998." So ... 35 years instead of the 25!!! It's worse than I thought!
The back cover of the original had a key map of Southern California
from Baja up to Point Conception. The new one has an old photo taken
of Nickey and Eddie Saenz surfing Topanga Beach in the early 60's -
taken by Bill. Plus a quote from Steve Pezman and another from Gabe
Sullivan of Surfer, "A time capsule of STOKE!"
All rest is pretty much the same expect for the addition in the new
edition of a beautiful dedication to Fitz written by David & Bill ( in
which I played a small contributory part). Bill illness prevented him
from doing much more, so David was ably assisted by Bank Wright - who
also wrote 'Surfing: California', 'Surfing: Hawaii' and 'Hawaiian
Coral Reef Ecology'. They double checked all the information in the
original edition and corrected any errors.
As far as I can tell, except for correcting the errors, none of the
original info has been altered. According to the anniversary edition,
you can still surf Dana Point, the Lighthouse, Hubbyland, Hendry's,
etc.
Bob
Tom Keener
<rrfREMOVECAPS@remove_all_this_too_xtra.co.nzED> wrote:
>On Sun, 07 Jul 2002 23:38:43 GMT, keen...@cts.com_but_not_this_part
>(Tom Keener) wrote:
>
>>I have a first edition. It says "Volume I". I wonder if there was a
>>Volume II?
>Tom - Thanks for your thoughtful response. My original SGSC is very
>worn, so I've been using the latest edition for reference. I'm looking
>at them both right now and there only appear to be a couple of major
>differences visible.
>
>The first is the front cover. The front of the new edition has a
>yellow banner reading 1963 - 35th Anniversary Nostalgia Edition -
>1998." So ... 35 years instead of the 25!!! It's worse than I thought!
My question wasn't really about the editions. On the credits page, it
says
THE INTERNATIONAL SURFING GUIDEBOOK SERIES
VOLUME I: Surfing Guide to Southern California
and the last sentence of the preface says, "the...series, which will
describe and illustrate the world's surf..."
Did they ever do any books on other regions?
Robert R. Feigel
(Tom Keener) wrote:
>On Mon, 08 Jul 2002 13:27:33 +1200, Robert R. Feigel
><rrfREMOVECAPS@remove_all_this_too_xtra.co.nzED> wrote:
>
>>On Sun, 07 Jul 2002 23:38:43 GMT, keen...@cts.com_but_not_this_part
>>(Tom Keener) wrote:
>>
>>>I have a first edition. It says "Volume I". I wonder if there was a
>>>Volume II?
>
>>Tom - Thanks for your thoughtful response. My original SGSC is very
>>worn, so I've been using the latest edition for reference. I'm looking
>>at them both right now and there only appear to be a couple of major
>>differences visible.
>>
>>The first is the front cover. The front of the new edition has a
>>yellow banner reading 1963 - 35th Anniversary Nostalgia Edition -
>>1998." So ... 35 years instead of the 25!!! It's worse than I thought!
>
>My question wasn't really about the editions. On the credits page, it
>says
>
>THE INTERNATIONAL SURFING GUIDEBOOK SERIES
>VOLUME I: Surfing Guide to Southern California
>
>and the last sentence of the preface says, "the...series, which will
>describe and illustrate the world's surf..."
>
>Did they ever do any books on other regions?
>
Short answer, "no." But you're right. The original *was* meant to be
the first in a series that would have included the East Coast, Mexico,
Hawai'i, Europe, North Africa, etc. But it just didn't happen.
BTW - I just got an email from David Stern about him revising his
review of SGSC on Amazon.com to reflect Bill's passing. The 1998, 35th
Anniversary edition sold out so they did another reprint in March this
year.
David's words:
"When Bill Cleary and I lived three houses away from each other at
Topanga Beach and he began to write this book, we never dreamed that
it would become the appreciated classic that it has. I simply want to
thank the surfing public for having expressed their appreciation to me
many times during the 38 years since we wrote it.
In March of 2002 we brought out the second printing of our "35th
Anniversary Nostalgia Edition"; the first printing (1998) sold out.
And then, on July 4, my friend Bill died. Of a heart attack. At age
64. He was the first surfer I ever saw (it was 1959), and he was then
one of the fittest athletes I'd ever seen. The last 15 years he had
Parkinson's Disease, which destroyed his coordination and made his
life hell. May he rest in peace.
I don't surf much any more, but I do count myself a surfer -- by my
own minimalist definition, which is that if I catch at least one wave
per calendar year I'm still a surfer. Otherwise I'm an ex-surfer. At
age 66 I'm a surfer, in Israel, where I live. And Bill doesn't.
Nevertheless: Happy surfing!"
Robert R. Feigel
<rrfREMOVECAPS@remove_all_this_too_xtra.co.nzED> wrote:
>
>Bill was editor of Surfguide Magazine, associate editor of Surfer
>Magazine and wrote and co-wrote several books, including what I think
>was the first work of fiction with a surfing theme (I can't remember
>the title but hope someone here can).
>
As someone has kindly pointed out, the title of the book was "All The
Young Wave Hunters" (New American Library - 1967) - not to be confused
witht he film 'The Young Wave Hunters' circa 1964. b
louisurfer
Is this the same Cleary that Surfed Blackies in Newport? The same
Cleary that rode in red trunks only in the middle of winter?
LouiSurfer
Robert R. Feigel
wrote:
If you're talking about the mid to late-50's then it could very well
be the same person. He didn't move to Malibu until late-50's, but had
many ties to the Newport area. Don't know about the red trunks, but it
sounds like something he'd have done.
A memorial for Bill is scheduled in Santa Barbara for July 19th.
b
Robert R. Feigel
<rrfREMOVECAPS@remove_all_this_too_xtra.co.nzED> wrote:
A tribute to my friend Bill Cleary:
<http://www.earthsea.co.nz/surfwriter/bills_tribute.htm> .