Rest In Peace, Scott "Desi" Desiderio - Stab Mag

Live Now — Episode 3 Of Surf100 Challenge Series Presented By Pacifico

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"Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming, "Wow what a ride!" — The life Desi lived, quote from Hunter S Thompson

Rest In Peace, Scott “Desi” Desiderio

Surf community grieves the loss of a beloved leader. Here’s the GoFundMe to support his family.

elsewhere // Jun 23, 2023
Words by Coral McDuffee
Reading Time: < 1 minute

Yesterday, Scott Desiderio, known by friends as ‘Desi,’ passed after an uphill battle against cancer. Southern California is grieving the loss of their beloved community member who, even the later stages of life, found more tube time than most of us.

Agatha Wallen of AWOW, a surf therapy organization that Desi directed, wrote: It is with profound sorrow and a heavy heart that we must convey the deeply tragic news of Scott “Desi” Desiderio’s passing earlier this morning. Words fail to capture the immense grief and sadness we are experiencing in this moment

As a team manager, marketing director, event producer, and the visionary behind projects like Camp Shred — the world’s largest surf demo — Desi had his hands full. But the laundry list never stopped him from helping his friends and community. 

Desi cared. Even while undergoing treatement, Desi gave time he didn’t have to organizations like A Walk On Water and Oceanside Boardriders Club. I had the pleasure of working with Desi at OBC (most of Stab’s staff has worked with Desi at some point in the last decade), where he sold raffle tickets, negotiated permits, and did everything (and anything) he could to help the next generation of surfers. Desi was a funny, selfless friend who always had thoughtful advice and a wealth of knowledge.

Desi will be missed by everyone who knew him. Please click HERE to donate to his GoFundMe to support his family during this tragic time.

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