By Ray Negron
At 1:47 pm on July 2, at Good Samaritan Hospital, the surfing world lost its king. Charlie Bunger, one of the true pioneers of the surfing community, and a member of the International Surfing Hall of Fame, lost his long battle with cancer. He was surrounded by his immediate family and departed the world peacefully. He fought like the champion that he was, with courage and great dignity.
To say that he will be missed is one of the great understatements of all time.
Charlie truly lived the American dream. He was born in Brooklyn and, like me, grew up on the tough streets of Williamsburg, Brooklyn.
I am not writing this as an obituary — but as his son in law — who admired a man that was a wonderful father and an incredible husband to Janet.
The first words out of my mouth when the doctor said that he was gone was that my wife Theresa and her sister Susan and her brothers, Charlie Jr. and Tommy, were so blessed to have had one of the great dads of all time. This is also a great understatement.
I have known this man for 15 years and all he did was show me that he was one damn good guy. His lifelong friends would always come back to the Bunger surf shop just to say hello to their mentor. Throughout the years this great man gave jobs to so many kids that would grow up to follow in his footsteps of reaching out for the American dream. I instantly think of his friend Paul Viti who is one of the true success stories on Wall Street, but who always gives credit to Charlie Bunger for giving him his first job. Viti’s sons have worked for the Bungers for the past few years and, like their dad, it was their first job.
I could fill a book on all the people who this man has impacted.
I don’t feel sorry for Charllie Bunger. I feel sorry for all the people that will miss him so very much. In my view, this man lived the life that one can only dream of and it is no surprise that one of his favorite songs was Somewhere over the Rainbow. As the song says and it is so appropriate for Charlie……
His dream really did come true.
Long live the King!
RAY NEGRON IS A CONTRIBUTING COLUMNIST WITH THE BRONX CHRONICLE HE IS ALSO PUBLISHED ON NYSPORTSDAY.COM AND NEWSMAX AND HEARD ON WEEKENDS AS CO-HOST ESPN 1050 DEPORTES IMPACT
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