New Jersey Windsurfing &
Watersports Association
Paul Smith Memorial
We are sad to report the passing of our good friend
and founding club member Paul Smith. Paul succumbed to a heart attack this
past Saturday afternoon while windsurfing ; a sport he so clearly loved. He
will be greatly missed.
Paul was not only an avid windsurfer, but also a keen kayaker and sunfish
sailor. He was relatively new to windsurfing but had the passion and
fire-in-the-belly for the sport. He played a major role in getting our
organization up and running, serving as Secretary and Race Committee Chair
from the inception of the club in 2009 until the beginning of this year.
In addition to being a member of NJWWA, Paul was also a member of the
Baltimore Area Boarding association (BABA). It was impressive that Paul
would volunteer on the BABA race committee to learn from experienced race
directors, and bring this experience to his running of the various race
events for NJWWA during his tenure as Race Committee Chair.
A significant amount of the early success of our annual NJWWA Funfests, can
be attributable to Paul’s enthusiasm and help with planning of the events.
Paul was the often the first one in the parking lot, always willing to lend
a hand & help as needed. He was always there to help with the annual spring
Earth Day clean up of Bayview Park at LBI.
LBI was certainly a place he held dear to his heart and indeed the island
life prompted Paul and his wife Kathy to purchase a home on LBI two years
ago. Paul had a hidden musical talent being a skilled keyboard player and
vocalist. To quote our club president: “His one--man-band at the 2010 NJWWA
gala was awesome”.
Paul was a wonderful family man who doted over his wife and children. Indeed
his final conversation with his windsurfing friends was about how he was
looking forward to going with his daughters to a Phillies game over the
weekend.
We are planning to honor Paul at a Bayview Park ceremony in the near future.
Regrets and Memories of Paul may be sent to
info@windsurfnj.org, which may be
compiled in the next newsletter.
Our thoughts go out to his wife Kathy and family.
Thank you,
NJWWA
Paul's family would like those who wish to make Memorial Contributions in
Paul’s name to send them to the New Jersey Windsurfing and Watersports
Association, PO Box 101, Hopewell, NJ 08525 or donate directly through
PayPal here.
