John Goodwin, of Hermosa Beach, Calif., and Ketchum, Idaho, skier, surfer lifeguard and artisan, died May 21, two days after suffering a massive stroke. He was 64.
On Sunday, June 24, there will be a paddle-out and memorial service at 21st Street in Hermosa Beach, Calif., at 9 a.m., followed by a Celebration of Life party at Sangria, 68 Pier Avenue, Hermosa Beach, from 1:30-4:30 p.m. Bob Leineau is coordinating a simultaneous paddle-out at Sunset Beach on the North Shore of Oahu, Hawaii. An additional celebration will be held in Sun Valley on Sunday, July 8, from 3-6 p.m. at 117 Stonegate Circle, north of Ketchum.
John Gordon Goodwin was born Aug. 24, 1942, grew up in Manhattan Beach, Calif., and graduated from Mira Costa High School in 1960. He spent one year at the University of Arizona "until his gills nearly dried up," which precipitated his return to the coast where he played water polo and swam for El Camino College. He then attended California State University, Long Beach, and got a teaching credential from UCLA.
He never stopped learning. An avid reader, he read everything from history and natural science to Updike and the latest biographies of the world's intellectual and political leaders. He was not above picking up one of his wife's "girly" novels if he ran out of reading material between his twice-weekly trips to the Hermosa library.
His 20-year marriage to Darlene began on the ski slopes of Sun Valley where he proposed to her two days after they met. Following a yearlong courtship, they were married in matching white ski suits at Averell's in the Roundhouse. They returned to Averell's to celebrate their anniversary every year.
In the winter of 1963-64, John worked for the Sun Valley Co., which was owned by Union Pacific Railroad at the time, selling lift tickets at the old Challenger Inn. He continued his love affair with Bald Mountain and the Sun Valley area until the day he died.
At 50 he took up snowboarding, "on an alpine carving board," he would proudly tell you. For 43 years he was a winter resident of Sun Valley and spent as much time there in the summers as he could. In 1991, he and Darlene bought a "fixer" Prospector condominium in Warm Springs. His carefully crafted remodeling of the space stands as testament to his artistry, skill and love of woodworking.
John worked as a Los Angeles County lifeguard for 40 years. Within that 40 years, he spent 15 summers teaching in the Junior Lifeguard program and another four summers working in a program for handicapped children and adults.
John was known to work hard and play hard and make work into play. In his trunks, his torso and arms spattered with clay, he shaped and carved at his potter's wheel with the concentration and dedication that were hallmarks of his attitude toward life as a seriously playful experience.
When the Chart House opened in Redondo Beach in 1969, he not only worked as a waiter but made most of their signature serving pottery, and during the 1970s and 1980s he owned Goodwin Stoneware in Hermosa Beach. A consummate craftsman, he taught ceramics for South Bay Adult School and the Palos Verdes Art Center. As a self-proclaimed "neat-nick," he took immaculate care of his homes, his cars, and especially his 1970 Ford surf van.
John surfed for the Hap Jacobs team from 1963 to 1965 and continued to surf all his life, taking trips to San Onofre with friends and family and to more far-flung surf meccas in Hawaii, Fiji and Australia.
Whether you were working or playing, surfing, swimming, or skiing, everyone who knew John Goodwin wanted to be on his team. One of his favorite activities was bicycling, which he did right up until he had the stroke.
In addition to his wife Darlene, John is survived by his daughter, Ann McNee, and her husband, Jeff, of Sun Valley; his 19-year-old cat, Chloe Bear; brother-in-law, David Engst, and nephews Adam and Cooper Engst, all of Washington state.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Wood River Animal Shelter.
