THE TIGHT-KNIT OCEAN CITY SURFING COMMUNITY COMES TOGETHER TO HONOR THE LIFE OF GAVIN KNUPP
Written by Jonathan Westman | Photography by Pamela Aquilani & Tony Pratt
On Monday, July 11, 2022, 14-year-old Gavin Knupp, a rising Stephen Decatur High School freshman, passed away following a tragic accident. His obituary read, in part: “Gavin was an outdoor enthusiast. He loved hunting, fishing, surfing and skateboarding. Above everything else, he loved his sister, Summer. They were two peas in a pod, always inseparable, and he looked at her as his hero. He will be remembered for his great sense of humor, his ability to light up a room and his exceptional character. He made friends everywhere he went and will be missed by everyone who knew him. Everyone who had the honor of knowing Gavin is better for doing so.”
Gavin is survived by his father, Ray, mother, Tiffany, and sister, Summer.
Images of Gavin provided by his family
A celebration of Gavin’s life was held Saturday, July 23, on the beach at 36th Street in Ocean City. More than 400 friends, family and well-wishers gathered to pay their respects, including more than 250 surfers, who took part in a “paddle-out,” a time-honored tradition celebrating the life of a surfer who has passed away. Organized by the Ocean City Surf Club, men, women and children made their way hundreds of yards offshore to remember and honor a young man who was right at home in the ocean. After forming a large circle, a memorial wreath was presented, and those with flowers tossed them into the circle as everyone collectively splashed water up toward the heavens.
The Knupp family issued a statement through their attorney about how much the paddle-out meant to them.
“Saturday’s Celebration of Life for Gavin was overwhelming for all of us,” the family stated. “While our grief remains, the outpouring of support from Gavin’s friends and family, local restaurants and businesses, and the community at large has continued to provide us with the strength we need to deal with this unspeakable tragedy.”
We talked with Tiffany this summer about Gavin’s love of surfing, her fondest memories of him with a surfboard and what she would like his fellow surfers to remember about him.
TIME-HONORED TRADITION
Gavin was acknowledged with the time-honored ritual of a paddleout, in which surfers paddle hundreds of yards from the shore to celebrate the life of a fallen surfer.
At what age did Garvin begin surfing?
Around the age of 11, mainly to impress the girls on the beach.
What did he enjoy most about being in the ocean and
surfing?
Gavin loved being with his sister and friends and loved the freedom and peace the waves brought him.
What are your fondest surfing memories of Gavin?
Our family trip to Huntington Beach, California, watching him skimboard and fall in love with surfing. And of course, the trash talking he would give Summer if he caught a wave and she didn’t.
Can you describe the sense of community that gathered in his memory during his celebration of life?
Our community’s love and support are like nothing we have ever seen before. Gavin touched so many lives and made such an impact on everyone he met. We are so humbled and thankful that we could set Gavin’s spirit free in such an unbelievably memorable way. He was for sure looking down and thinking how cool he was; we could feel him with us all day as he forced smiles on our faces.
BROTHERLY LOVE
For all that Gavin loved in life, nothing eclipsed the devotion he had to his sister, Summer, whom he regarded as his hero
What about Gavin would you like for local surfers to remember about him?
Gavin was a free spirit and went full speed with everything he did. So, don’t stop trying and take that next wave! Live life to the fullest and be kind to each other.
Could you share something about Gavin that people outside of his family and friend circle wouldn’t know about him?
He was very passionate about everything he did and was always the jokester with a huge heart. He definitely was the guy always taking up for the underdog and would take up for others without hesitation. He loved his sister, Summer, more than life, and she was his hero, even though he didn’t think she knew. He was perfect and the type of person we should all strive to be. CS
A GoFundMe page was created in honor of Gavin to assist the Knupp family. For more, and to contribute, visit Gofundme.com/f/gavin-knupp