Memorial Celebration For Steve Schafer
 

A memorial was held for Steve Schafer at Stuart Beach Saturday morning. It was estimated about 100 surfers paddled offshore and organized into a circle. There may have been several hundred people standing onshore watching.


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CLICK ON PHOTO for full sized image


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Entering the surf to paddle out. From Steve's Facebook memorial page, link provided below.


Friends are trying to raise funds to place a memorial sculpture at Stuart Beach in honor of Steve through this Facebook page.
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?....2310252179..1


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PHOTO BY ERIC HASERT, http://www.tcpalm.com/



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PHOTO BY SAM WOLFE, http://www.tcpalm.com/



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PHOTO BY ERIC HASERT, http://www.tcpalm.com/


Still more photos can be found at:
http://www.tcpalm.com/photos/galleri...schafer/38466/


TV coverage of the memorial:
http://www.tcpalm.com/videos/detail/...ephen-schafer/


Reflections about Steve from his friends:
http://www.tcpalm.com/news/2010/feb/...ack-victim-st/


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Friends were encouraged to record their thoughts about Steve here.


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A photo of Steve (on the right), likely taken with his own camera just a week before the Memorial at the Jupiter Kiteboarding Invasion.


Everyone I spoke to had fond memories of Steve as a mellow, steady friend. He never had a harsh word for anyone but still was a realist. Many commented on his outstanding surfing skills and strength at kiteboarding. The mood was somber but with some joy too over Steve's life and their shared love of the ocean. Steve like many in his family had a profound passion for the sea. His father, Howard Schafer, was a brilliant artist focusing on captivating nautical scenes and in particular Bahamian sailing craft in island settings. There was a large turnout of friends providing some insight into Steve's impact on the community. Surfers, kiteboarders and family friends showed up in force. He will be missed. Rest in peace Steve.


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Nice sets of swells were rolling in throughout the Memorial and beyond.

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“Evening Winds”

There is an exhibit of Steve father's work, Howard Schafer on display in Stuart until February 12, 2010. It is a tribute to the fathers art but in some ways it is a tribute to Steve as well. You can better understand why in reading:

http://www.tcpalm.com/news/2010/jan/...e-artist-1404/

There is a marvelous painting of the Gilberts Bar House of Refuge near Stuart that is almost worth the entire visit all on its own. It is a brilliant glowing canvas of sea color, historic sailing vessels anchored by Gilberts Bar looking like something right out of the Bahamas. In fact it is right here. He has local island scenes out of various Bahamian Islands as well as views from the east coast of the USA.

More from about the exhibit, opening and a very nice book about the art in the show at:
http://howardschafer.com/

I traveled to the Stuart area for a funeral today. My friend was a dynamic, well respected and successful business and family man. Hearing all the stories of his life and times made you think. It is good to leave a positive impression on those around you by your values and actions through life.

I brought some kite gear along and had planned on going off Ft. Pierce Inlet after the ceremony. It didn't work out that way, given limited time and location. So by odd coincidence, I went to the public beach at the south end of Hutchinsen Island where Steve had his accident, two years ago this coming February. My normal riding area is 70 miles south, so I don't make it up here very often. The last time for kiting was probably ten years back.

It was a sunny day with people on the beach and about a dozen surfers in the water. I couldn't see any kiters along the coast but the wind had ebbed, down to around 14 mph or so. Waves were about head high and under. I confirmed things with the lifeguards before going out, stay beyond 100 yards off the guarded beach with a kite up. This is pretty much universal throughout southeast Florida. If we are to preserve access we need to do this simple thing and motivate other kiters to do the same.

I assumed shark activity had been light and this was confirmed by the lifeguard. There is no shortage in these waters and many others frequented by kiters, still the spring migration is still a few months off at this point. So, I went out for a while, tacked upwind down to the House of Refuge and ran back downwind to just outside the lifeguarded area.

We're on this earth for a short time, we never know how short either. The friend whose funeral I attended made it to his mid 70's. Steve Schafer to 38 years. Neither had likely anticipated the timing of their deaths, the cancer in my friend's case nor the fatal shark bite in Steve's tragic accident.

Judging from the comments of friends in each man's case you have to conclude that each lived a productive life, enriching the lives of those around them by their acts and really being type of people they were. So, live life well, enjoy your times and help those around you by example and in actions. These two guys did, the world is a poorer place for their passing but richer for deeds during their lives.

The sculpture in honor of Steve has been completed.

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The "Crescent Sail" sculpture dedicated to Stephen Schafer on Sunday at the Florida Oceanographic Coastal Center. The stainless-steel memorial stands about 12 feet tall and has two sails that rotate when the wind blows.

There is an article about the dedication of the statue in memory of Steve at:

http://www.tcpalm.com/news/2012/dec/...bileRedirect=1


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Rest in peace Steve


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A memorial article published in The Kiteboarder Magazine

http://fksa.org/gallery3/var/resizes...g?m=1454813468


Steve Schafer died as a result of a shark attack while kitesurfing on February 3, 2010 just south of Stuart Beach. He may have been the first kiter to be lost in this fashion worldwide. This photo was taken a mile south of where Steve was riding when the attack occurred. I didn't go up with the intent of remembering Steve but that is inevitable every time I ride off the House of Refuge. He lives on in the waters of this place for myself, perhaps others as well. By coincidence this session was five years plus two days from the date of his passing. The blacktip sharks are running north again along with even larger predatory sharks although I didn't see any sharks, feeding birds, jumping bait or the like on this day. I pay particular attention for such signs when I kite even more so after Steve's passing. We're thinking of you Steve.


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The House of Refuge

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