Steven Alan Fry

Steven Alan Fry

November 21, 1953 - February 05, 2014

Steven Alan Fry

November 21, 1953 - February 05, 2014

Obituary

Lifelong SoCal resident, marine activist, brand and manufacturing developer STEVEN ALAN FRY passed away in San Juan Capistrano, CA on February 5, 2014 with his devoted wife Irma Fry by his side, his courageous three-year battle with cancer finally over. On that day, the world lost an environmental visionary and outdoor recreation advocate whose passions fueled a lifelong drive to produce highly innovative ‘adventure class’ products for the recreational lifestyle that he so dearly loved and coveted.

‘Life is an Adventure,” he would say. Born on November 21,1953, Steven began his forays into the water world while still in diapers, guided by his father’s strong arms and words of encouragement to master the doggy paddle. Flash forward 56 years to October 8, 2009, when Steven stood before the California Coastal Commission in Oceanside, California, to represent a different breed of paddlers – and advocate the significant need to add human powered watercraft facilities in Dana Point Harbor’s revitalization plan. On that day, Steven’s Human Powered Watercraft Association (HPWA) was launched, and his comprehensive 2-year traffic study that quantified paddlers as the harbor’s largest group was well-received. In March 2010, over 1800 passionate paddlers celebrated the addition of a dedicated wash down facility for their human powered water craft in the harbor’s revised revitalization plan. The HPWA, with it’s growing list of supporters and volunteers, has been instrumental in representing the interests of all human powered watercraft through public education, protection of natural resources, defense and expansion of public access, and general promotion of one of the world’s most environmentally friendly and healthy forms of water sports.

Between the years of birth and final transition, Steven pursued a number or significant entrepreneurial projects that began while he was still in college. He became a certified hang glider pilot in 1974, which lead to businesses in ultralight aircraft distribution, construction, sales and flight park development.

A lifelong automotive enthusiast, Steven also pioneered several award-winning passenger safety products and the well-known ProNet® tailgate net, Supertruck® and Bladewing® automotive accessories and equipment.

His love for boating is legendary among the local community. His degree from Brooks Institute of Photography in Santa Barbara, CA, had included training in underwater photography – a perfect fuel to stoke his passions with oceanography and scuba diving. This combination, in turn, fueled his most ambitious venture, to build the world’s most environmentally advanced yachts through his 2004 Jacques-Yves Cousteau-inspired TREKKER® Marine Enterprises start-up.

Exclusive naval architect Patrick Bray of Bray Yacht Design and Research came aboard for the challenge of designing the first and only brand of vessels to be created on an environmental mandate, with custom all-aluminium designs ranging from 65 to 165 feet in length. The TREKKER 75 trawler yacht model was subsequently awarded first place in the Madrid Diseño de Yates Awards for Technical Innovation and Yacht Design, at the Barcelona International Boat Show.

While forging ahead with his TREKKER® Yachts development efforts with Jean-Michel Cousteau and Body Glove to fund, build and operate a unique TREKKER® vessel platform that would introduce “clear-bubble” 3-man submersibles, Steven discovered the fast-growing sport of paddle boarding. Taking to it like a fish to water, the TREKKER® brand soon expanded into the action sports arena with TREKKERPortables.com, the industry innovation of portable boat and board racks, accessories and safety equipment for human powered water craft.

Steven treasured every moment of every dream achieved, as well as the friends he made along the way. Sadly, Steven’s dreams were dimmed before TREKKER® Yachts became fruitful, as he spent the last three years of his life fighting terminal cancer. The love and care that Irma and their circle of friends offered to him in his final days was deeply appreciated by Steven and his family.

In addition to his wife Irma, Steven is survived by his two children from his first marriage, daughter Fallon Kelly Ryan (Matt) and son Mathieu Steven Fry; his mother Helen E. Fry; siblings Nancy Fry (Karen Baker), Susan Littlefield (Bill) and Geoffry Fry; and nephews George and Jared Littlefield. His father, George Fry, Jr, preceded him in death in January 2014.

Memorial service will be on Friday, February 28 at 7:00pm at O’Connor Mortuary in Laguna Hills. Memorial guests can celebrate Steven’s life by wearing Hawaiian shirts and/or tropical colors.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests contributions to the Ocean Institute, Dana Point CA, c/o Steven Alan Fry Memorial Fund.

Contributions to the fund may be made in any of the following ways:

1. Online. Visit http://www.ocean-institute.org/get_involved/giving.html. Click on “Donate Now”. Complete the form, including ‘Direct Donation’ designation, and fill in the comment box with your name(s), in memory of Steven Alan Fry.

2. Mail. Make a check made payable to Ocean Institute and indicate in the memo field that is should be applied to the Steven Alan Fry Memorial Fund. Send your donation to the following address: Ocean Institute c/o Steven Alan Fry Memorial Fund 24200 Dana Point Harbor Dr, Dana Point, CA 92629

3. At the memorial service.

Links:
ProNet
http://www.covercraft.com/pronet_tailgate_net.html

Founder / Director of the Human Powered Watercraft Association
www.LetsPaddle.org

Owner www.TrekkerYachts.com

Owner www.TrekkerRacks.com

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5 responses to Steven Alan Fry

  1. Steven was a visionairy who was well ahead of his time. His beliefs in the way humans can interact with the Ocean will prove to be timeless and completely on track. I wish I could have seen the Trekker Yachts projects seen to completion while he was still with us and truly believe someone will one day step up and make this happen. We miss you Steven!

    Capt. Arnie Hammerman / POWER & MOTORYACHT

  2. Dan Lape says:

    I have never met Steven, and only became aware of him through Facebook and mutual friends. However, his love of the ocean and his passion for better management by all who share its joy and bounty was something we had in common spiritually. I can only hope that such traits will be consumed by others as part of his legacy and that when you look seaward, you smile and think of Steven.

  3. Sam Compton says:

    Steven was a good friend and business associate. We have worked on various projects over the last 30 years. He was an inspirational man and a great leader. We shared the same passions in the automotive aftermarket. Each of our visits were celebrated by a single martini. So Steven here’s a toast to you my friend. “Smooth sailings.”

  4. Nancy Fry says:

    Lit a candle in memory of Steven Alan Fry

  5. I had some dealings with him because of Human Powered Watercraft Association because I don’t want to have a life jacket on my paddleboard. It was he, however, who convinced me to always use a leash instead, and I have done so. At one point I loaned him my copy of Gilbert and Sullivan’s The Gondoliers, our official SUP musical. Didn’t get to know him as well as I would have liked. Who is carrying on HPWA?

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