Memorial Paddle Out for Fellow Stoke Reporter on 10/30 At Linda Mar

http://stokereport.com/users/cali

2 great posts from her...

* I braved the poo, and toxic brew, and found myself a few.

* Rant - Women are on the site: Hey guys. I have been lurking for awhile, and you guys seem to be more enlightened than the average surfer. Could I maybe help you to become a tiny bit more politically correct when it comes to body part language, and female anatomy language? You know, the kinds of things you probably would not say in mixed company...? Well, this is mixed company. It is kind of weird to keep reading about your nuts, and your popped cherries, etc.

Maria Eleanor Pease, M.D. 12/07/60 - 10/08/11 Resident of Burlingame, CA. Dr. Maria Pease, a psychiatrist, and an accomplished athlete, died of cancer on October 8th at Stanford Medical Center. Dr. Pease was fifty years old. Born in Harrisburg, Dr. Pease attended Bishop McDevitt High School and Mercersburg Academy. She received a BA degree in psychology from Stanford Univ. (1983) and an MD degree from Boston Univ. (1992). While at Boston Univ. Dr. Pease received the Henry J. Bakst Award, given to the medical student who most exemplifies qualities of a "true physician." During her psychiatry residency, in 1996, Dr. Pease was the recipient of the Laughlin Award given by the National Psychiatric Endowment Foundation for "excellence in therapeutic skills and dedication to the welfare of patients." Within her private psychiatric practice Dr. Pease treated children and adolescents, as well as adults, with sub-specialties in Parent Infant Psychology and Sport Psychiatry. Since 1998, Dr. Pease served as Assistant Clinical Professor at The University of California at San Francisco. While at UCSF she was the psychiatric evaluator on the transplant team evaluating organ donors and recipients. Most recently she was an attending physician with the Deep Brain Stimulation Program, which provides treatment for patients suffering from Obsessive Compulsive Disorder. From the time she was a child, until shortly before her death, Maria was a driven athlete. According to family lore, at the age of five, she was able to swim the length of a pool without taking a breath. While swimming for Stanford her team won their first NCAA championship. During 1980, in her quest to make the American team, Maria qualified for the US Olympic Trials. A passionate surfer, Maria loved the ocean. Along with her family she traveled to beaches around the world. She often described the ocean as being her "church." On the water, she found a spiritual connection with life. Maria was a member of the Surfer's Medical Association, an international group of health care professionals committed to implementing models of health care delivery for underdeveloped coastal regions around the world. Maria played the piano, expressed her artistic talents as a photographer, and enjoyed cooking for her family. The youngest of four children, Maria will be deeply missed by her father, Dr. William Pease, her sister, Rebecca Kelly, and her brothers, Robert Pease, Esq. and Dr. Andrew Pease. Although a brief life, it was a full one. Dr. Maria Pease would say that her greatest accomplishment was her two children, Walker and Caroline, and her loving relationship with Cathy Koger, her spouse of twenty-six years. Friends and family are invited to a memorial service on Tues., Oct. 27, 2011, at 2:00 p.m., at the Stanford Memorial Church, 450 Serra Mall, Stanford Univ. Campus. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the Surfrider Foundation, www.surfrider.org, in memory of Maria Pease M.D

We'll miss you Maria. I fondly remember a few sharing a few big OB days with you. Rest in peace.

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Sorry for your loss. I read the obit on her. Sounds like she was a wonderful person who slipped away far too young.

Verry Sad she sounded like a great person, Sorry for your loss.
Rest in peace.

Wow. Time to kiss the loved ones and cherish life that much more after reading we've lost such a spirit. While I didn't know you, it was just by a degree. RIP Cali.

Super great person who I only met once. I sold Maria a longboard this summer... She had told me she had cancer but seemed positive about beating it and wanted a particular noserider I was selling. She had a really impressive quiver of boards at her house and piles of wetsuits for her kids and her. Very nice teenage kids who played with my toddler as we were talking boards. Bummed I never surfed with her, rest in peace Maria and condolences @Piss.

@piss, thanks for posting this. I was at a loss for the correct words to use, so I'm really glad you posted.

Maria was as fearless in DOH Ocean Beach as anyone I've ever seen out there. Absolutely charging the charging chargeables. And she charged this disease in the exact same manner, with the kind of piss & vinegar & vitality & spirit & confidence that truly is rare. If anyone could have beaten it, it would have been her.

In an out of the water, she was an exceptionally nice & *genuine* person. I'm inspired by the life she lead & miss her already even though I only knew her a short time.

Even if you didn't know Maria, please try to either make the paddle out on Sunday.

And, I don't know, be good to each other. Life's too short.

OMG thanks for posting! I had no idea. Met her on a Canada surf trip. Shared beautiful scenery, lousy surf conditions, whale sightings, and an hour-long-muddy-as-all-getout bog trek to reach a never surfed [ and also skunky ] break.

She totally lit up when she talked about her kids.

That is such a loss. She was a charger in every sense of the word.

What a woman. I watched her just tear it up at Pleasure Point. Had she not told me she was sick, I would never have guessed. She went after wave after wave with a lot of heart and a lot of strength. Out of the water, we exchanged a few emails about board choices and she offered plenty of kind words and solid advice. She was pretty rad.

Maria, you will be missed greatly.

What time? I'm guessing s0uth end?

Too many of these #@($*ing paddle-outs this year. This is probably the fifth one I've been to. Going forward, please check with management to get permission before getting sick or dying.

"Don't let us get sick/don't let us get old
Don't let us be stupid, alright?
Just make us be brave/and make us play nice
and let us be together tonight."

So sad --- sorry to hear about this. Did Maria have short hair? If so, I met her years ago and enjoyed crossing paths with her in the ocean, though we did not do so very frequently. Condolences to her family and friends.

So sorry to hear about this. I wish I had known her, she sounds like a wonderful person.

In 2006, at UCSF Hospital, I under went spinal fusion surgery of the lower back, S1 - L5. During my recovery there, I was visited by an individual, Female, who had heard that I was a surfer. She asked me a series of questions, and two stuck in my mind; "do you expect to be able to surf again, and, how soon do you want to be back in the water?" I thought she was one of my Physical Therapists, but proceeded to inform me that she too was a Surfer, and that she could help me with any emotional blocks when I was ready to get back in the water if I had any, because my Orthopedic Surgeon stated that he didn't want me even close to a surfboard in the water for at least one year. I informed her of my passion for the ocean and surfing, and my desire to do everything possible for a speedy recovery thus allowing me to surf as soon as possible. Much to my Surgeons surprise, he released me after only 6 months of intensive PT, but more importantly, the willingness to emotionally heal by conferring with Dr. Pease once a month, and talking story about our past surf experiences.

I thought I recognized her name, and looking back through my medical records, it was in fact Dr. Pease who assisted me in getting back in the water earlier than expected.

Thank you Dr. Pease for all you did not only for myself, but for everybody else who was graced to have come in contact with you.

Oh man. I am really going to miss Maria.

She was my therapist for the last 7 years. Maria helped me more than anyone else to become who I am, and to overcome so many hurdles in my life. I owe so much to her. I only knew her as a psychiatrist, but at that she was top notch.

It was only after 4 years of our sessions that I discovered she was a surfer (therapy is a funny thing: she knew so much about me and I knew so little about her). I remember one time when I managed to get her vacation plans out of her: surfing Tavarua! I'm glad she had that experience in her life.

She had this kind of reserved humor about her in our sessions. Made me smile when I would think about it afterwards..

I had always hoped to see her out in the lineup. My condolences to her family and everyone who was close to her. She was an amazing person.

....

kind words that will be shared by a close friend of Maria during her service tomorrow, hope to see folks out there on Sunday

....

February 2005. State of Guerrero, mainland Mexico.

It’s 6:30 am. 75 degrees. The sun rising from the east. It’s quiet, the water glassy– only a few fisherman and birds easing into their daily routines.

My friend, Dave, and I are nearing the end of a 30 minute panga boat ride from a local fisherman, Jesus.

Wind sweeps across my smile as we near the surf break – the Ranch.

We can see waves breaking left and right over a natural rock reef point.

Only a surfer knows the feelings fueled by the prospects of a morning alone at a world class break – excitement, anxiousness and wave greed consume our thoughts.

Not a resort, village or hut in site.

Only one other surfer is in the water when we arrive.

The surfer – not annoyed by us ruining her quiet surf session – greets us with a brilliant smile.

We jump into the water and paddle to the break towards her: “Hi, I am Maria,” she says.

From that moment on, my appreciation for the power of the ocean would never be the same.

On that day, the ocean provided me with not just an incredible day of surfing Mexico’s coastline, but also introduced me to a great friend.

Every day, I am thankful that the ocean brought us together at that moment. Two surfers from the Bay Area meeting 2,000 miles away from home at an isolated surf break.

This story is important because it represents the genesis of my relationship with Maria and because it captures the essence of our great friend.

Maria is the only person I know that would drive alone in the middle of Mexico – down a ten mile dirt road – to surf an isolated break at dawn.

Maria lived her life so passionately and with little remorse. Whether she was surfing, swimming at Olympic levels, taking photographs for the AP, serving patients as a visionary doctor, being a friend, or parenting, Maria only knew one way – 100 percent.

This passion was infectious. After catching a great wave or seeing an acquaintance in the water, Maria’s smile would light up the line-up. Everyone in the water knew Maria and loved her for this enthusiasm.

I always figured that her passion was blinding; an obsession and a quest to be great at many things – which, of course, she was.

But it wasn’t until very recently that I realized Maria’s passion for life was not fueled by achievement, but by courage.

She had the courage to surf big waves alone, love unconditionally, excel in all ways and pursue her passions.

And she had the courage to battle disease with grace and humor.

Even in great pain, Maria found the courage and strength to smile and make others around her feel better.

It wasn’t until my last moment with Maria that I fully understood why she had such an attraction to the ocean.

Put simply, they shared the same essence: Maria and the ocean are infinitely strong. Both are beautiful in ways that surpass words. And both give life and energy to those nearest.

I feel blessed to have known Maria and to be considered one of her friends.

Not a day goes by that I don’t miss Maria dearly. I miss her smile. I miss her great listening and patient ways. I miss her advice. I miss her friendship, courage and strength.

So sad... I am sorry to hear about her passing. I did not know her but I remember seeing her around the beach. Rest in Peace. My thoughts and prayers are with her friends and family.

R.I.P!

didn't know her but after reading all this and with a tear in my eye its like all of you just told me I missed an epic session, the session of my life, the session of knowing maria.

Maria was classic. I have many memories of her here at OB. I just realized that I have known her for quite some time. Always upbeat, asking questions and always giving out compliments to those who were getting it done on the waves. Watching her try to surf waves well beyond her ability always brought a smile to my face. She charged! To those of you who knew her well, you should feel lucky. Rest in Peace.

- The Beard

Fair waves, Maria.

Sounds like a great person. RIP Maria.