Baby Paul Cullen, life-long friend of Jay Adams and the youngest of the skateboarders made famous by artist/photographer Craig Stecyk’s Dogtown stories, died on July 23, 2009, according to a story on Yovenice.com. He was 47.
The C.R. Stecyk photo (above) will remain our favorite image of Paul if not our favorite skate photo ever. Paul’s worn down Vans, torn shorts, and complete overflow of innate style in motion captivated us as kids and made us want to be skateboarders even though we didn’t know any.
Christie Martin remembers him:
I want people to know, that his life wasn’t about drugs. He had great friends and wanted to do whatever it took to support his daughter and live a good life. It just so happens that when the pressure got to much drugs knew just how to sneak in in those moments and grab him. . . .He should be remembered as a ripper skater, shredder surfer, and loving doting father. We will love, and honor you forever in our hearts.
A memorial service was held at 10:30am Saturday the 25th at St. Monicas Catholic Church on California Ave in Santa Monica.
[Link: Yovenice.com via SkateandAnnoy.com]
I know a couple stories have the date of his death as July 23, but is was actually July 18 or 19.
Very sad indeed.
I have a Martinez hardly used skateboard that Paul autographed at a board shop that was on Abbott Kinney in Venice. I had the board custom built for my daughter around 2002 when she was 4. I had not idea Paul was gone, and am typing through tears… Dogtown lives always… Whether in Venice or Brentwood Science Magnet Elementary… A belated RIP PC.
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