Beyond sad news

Paul,

Condolences to you and your family.

Thoughts and prayers.

Paul, condolences to you and your family.  Our thoughts and prayers are with you!

Dang, I just picked up an issue of Kayak Fish Magazine because Paul had assisted in an article. Great guy, hate to see things like this happen to good people.  Need to go give my kids a hug....

Many prayers for you and your family. I can not imagine the pain you are feeling. As someone who is expecting my first child soon, things like this are terrifying and a lesson to the rest of us to cherish our loved ones each and every day.

So sad, best wishes for him and his family.

I'll give Mr H extra hugs

Our condolences Paul and Family. Your original FB post said " I thought we had a whole lifetime together" ...brought tears to my eyes. All of us should think of  each day with our family and friends with just  that thought in mind.

Ditto that Allen. I talked to Paul briefly last night. He is really tired and is just hanging by a thread. I will try to get an address to send cards. There will be talk later of a memorial paddle in La Jolla sometime down the road. I can't even imagine.

Way to young. Prayers to the family.

In light of this tragic situation, we would like to do something to help Paul & his family get through the tough times. So it has been decided that a portion of $ from AOTY & DOTY fees will be donated on behalf of our NCKA community. Because he's family and that's what familes do...help each other. We can't even begin to imagine how Paul & family are feeling but if this helps, even just a little bit, then it's worth it.
Thanks for participating in AOTY and giving us the ability to do things like this for our little community!

My friends, thank you for your kind thoughts and condolences. We loved that beautiful young man intensely. He was a freshman computer science major at Cal Poly Pomona. I was fortunate to cram a lot of time together into his too short 18 years. I was a stay at home dad from the time he was two, until he went off to junior high. I cherish our many adventures. We were tight. 

We lost James early on Monday morning. About two hours after we'd shared laughs over the phone, he collapsed in his dorm room. Help came immediately, but there was nothing anyone could do.

James suffered an aneurysm on his brain stem. There was no warning. Two neurosurgeons told us that only specialized scans that weren't indicated by his medical history could have uncovered it, and even then the prospect of successful surgery would have been low. It was a matter of time.

I have never felt more helpless. We did the only thing we could do, stay with James, showering him with love and warm touches until he was gone. Then we watched over him for two days as One Legacy found recipients for his organs. His heart went to another 18 year old. His lungs, kidneys, pancreas and liver were also matched with those in need.

There's more in this story. All kids are special to their parents (or should be). James was exceptional, a special needs child who overcame his disability. He was my inspiration, a gentle 6-6 giant, kind, funny and smart.

His story made the San Diego Union Tribune: http://www.utsandiego.com/news/2015/jan/17/outdoors-kidney-donor-lebowitz-martinez/ The writer got a few minor things wrong about the early days when he was diagnosed on the spectrum, but we're deeply appreciative that James' story was shared.

We are working to endow a permanent annual Cal Poly scholarship in James' name, so he will live on in the memory of the campus community which had already embraced him. They treated him (and us), like family.

I'm touched that you are considering supporting us in this unspeakably sorrowful time. We are asking people, in lieu of cards or flowers, to please consider making a donation (every little bit helps) to:

In remembrance of James Lebowitz. Please hold for a scholarship endowment.
California State Polytechnic University, Pomona
Gift Processing Department
3801 West Temple Avenue
Pomona, CA 91768

I can't say enough about Cal Poly. Reyes Luna, Director of Residence Life, rode to the hospital with James, staying until we were nearly there, then came back just a few hours later to check on him. They held a candlelight vigil at the dorm.

It was agony - we came from our vigil at the hospital - but in some way it helps to see that James had become part of the campus family. We heard over and over that James was always smiling, always friendly. Even the janitor came by with a story of the laughs they'd shared.

We are planning a remembrance and paddle out at La Jolla, with an informal shore lunch to follow, sometime in March or April. We will also arrange a powerboat or two.

We can't believe James is gone. He was our ray of light, the best of us, the kindest, the funniest, always ready with a hug or a sweet word. He was my inspiration. Last summer, when the two of us embarked on a 9 day road trip, I had a chance to tell him how proud I was of the extraordinary journey he'd taken. I LOVE YOU JAMES, ALWAYS.

As I have already said we are so so sorry for your loss. I spent 4 years of my life at Cal Poly Pomona and it is where I met my wife. I appreciate the thought of a scholarship fund at the school. Thanks for sharing your story with us Paul. It was really special what you did for others in need of help.

Rob and Berta

Thanks for responding to us PAL,

shocking perspective as I battle with my 17 y/o boys/men as we speak…  your so right in being grateful every moment and thank you again…

Can't help but feel such an empty kick in the gut since you made us aware of your tragedy …  I never met your son, but he sounds so special I'm sure he is being well taken care of on the other side…

Also Can't help but think Mooch and Chef are showing him the ropes as I write this…

  a-barring any significant scheduling problems, I'll be there for the paddle with I'm sure a strong contingency of NCKA...


  Take Care to you and yours Paul and we'll see you soon,,, 

Damn, so sad - but what a life-saver your son proved to be!

Friends, I have a request for help and information. When the NCKA community so lovingly laid Mooch to rest, I recall you placed a monument on the bottom. I'd like to know more about it - the process, the sentiment, its preparation and placement. NCKA knows how to send their brethren back to mother ocean with style and the utmost of respect.

I also need to talk with someone about how best to work around or work within our state's intrusive and often rightly ignored regulations concerning scattering ashes at sea. Mooch's gathering was a large one. It could not have escaped official notice, yet it seemed like the authorities showed the community great respect and deference.

I have no expectations over the size of my son's paddle out. It could be intimate, just a couple dozen, but it could also involve hundreds as it overlaps several distinct communities, not just kayak anglers. Any advice on navigating these emotional waters is much appreciated, either here or offline. I'm easy to find on Facebook, and not at all shy about sharing my email address and phone number with friends.

http://www.norcalkayakanglers.com/index.php?topic=49872.msg554915#msg554915

-Allen

Big Jim sent me a PM earlier today, which reminded me that I hadn't checked the mail in days. We've been in something of a daze, trying to get through the best we can with the grief and the many sad and mundane tasks that come with the loss of a loved one.

THANK YOU!

Such generosity. The NCKA community is full of people with huge hearts. The kindness is a beacon in a dark time. My family really can't thank all of you who contributed to the PIF funds enough, and for thinking of us, as well as for your words of solace and prayers.

We lost a very dear young man just as he was spreading his wings. James was our family's ray of light. We're getting by as best we can one day at a time. We are fortunate to have many people including some from NCKA checking on us frequently. It's helped keep us going.

Your generous donation will take us a long way towards establishing a permanent, annual scholarship for an incoming Cal Poly Pomona computer science major, paying it forward in perpetuity and keeping our son's name alive in the memory of the campus community.

Again, thank you! I'm overwhelmed.

Paul