"...smell the sea, and feel the sky
let your soul & spirit fly, into the mystic...”
In New Orleans, the passing of a loved one is remembered with jazz. Along the Southern California coast, it is a paddle out. Surfers with flowers paddle out past the waves, others gather along the shore, and the memories of a life well spent are laid to rest.
Today, there was a paddle out for the founder of Huntington Beach's International Surfing Museum, Natalie Kotsch, who passed away from cancer, February 20, 2014.
The Huntington Beach Surfing Walk of Fame tells Natalie's story:
"The International Surfing Museum of Huntington Beach began as the vision of local realtor Natalie Kotsch. Realizing that surfing was a major part of life for the residents of Huntington Beach, she was stunned to find there was no real local attraction (recognizing) the Surfing Capital of the World."*
Through Natalie's efforts, the first International Surfing Museum opened in 1982 on Walnut Street and in 1987, the Museum moved to its present location in a historic building at 411 Olive Avenue, just two blocks up Main Street from the beach and pier.
The Museum's website explains Natalie's devotion to local surf culture:
"Natalie Kotsch came from a spot in Canada where there really wasn't any surfing. She recognized this incredible beach vibe and a welcoming spirit that made her feel happy in Huntington Beach, and she got caught in a fever that snags many who live in beach areas around the globe. You don't have to surf to love watching the sport, said Kotsch."**
If you hear live surf music in historic downtown Huntington Beach on a Sunday afternoon, April through October, that's mostly due to Natalie. Surfin' Sundays free live music in the parking lot of the Museum are now de rigueur. If you want to see the century-old cornerstone of the 1914 Huntington Beach pier, it's in the Museum that Natalie created. If you want to see vintage surfboards, the bust of Duke Kahanamoku, posters and paraphernalia near and dear to local surf culture, you'll find it in the little Museum that would not be here without Natalie.
Thank you, Natalie, for recognizing the value of local history, the beauty of our distinct surf culture, and for devoting so much of your life to save it. Respect.
*See Surfing Walk of Fame post and photos of Natalie Kotsch at http://www.surfingwalkoffame.com/honor_roll/Kotsch.html
**Learn about the International Surfing Museum at http://www.surfingmuseum.org/history.html
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