Friends and family paddle out in memory of Newport Beach man killed in helicopter crash

Friends and relatives of a Newport Beach businessman killed this week in a helicopter crash grabbed their surfboards and paddled out Saturday morning near the Newport Pier to celebrate his life.

Joseph Anthony Tena, 60, was identified as one of four people aboard the Robinson R44 copter that slammed into a home Tuesday afternoon on Shearwater Place near Egret Court in the Bayview Terrace community of Newport Beach.

Kimberly Lynne Watzman, 45, of Santa Monica and Brian Reichelt, 56, of Hollywood, Fla., also died in the crash. Two other people — a passenger in the helicopter and a pedestrian on the ground — were injured, authorities said.

Tena, a developer and entrepreneur, was born in Huelva, Spain. He first came to Southern California in 1975 to attend Pepperdine University. He later immigrated to the area to raise his four daughters — Gabriela, Marta, Alejandra and Carlota — with his second wife, Marta Aza, according to his children.

His family wrote in a statement that Tena loved to travel and often visited relatives in Spain. He also enjoyed playing soccer, boating, music and dancing.

“Truly a bon vivant, he left this life as he lived it, enjoying it to its fullest and not taking any moment for granted,” his family wrote.

The National Transportation Safety Board and Federal Aviation Administration are investigating the crash, which happened shortly after the helicopter took off from John Wayne Airport on its way to Catalina Island, according to the NTSB.

Tena was chief executive of Ferrado Group, a real estate investment firm with a location in Newport Beach. The group’s lodging holdings include Standard hotels, for which Watzman and Reichelt worked.

Tena also had an ownership stake in Revolution Aviation, a flight school and touring company at John Wayne Airport that had leased the R44 copter.

A statement from Revolution Aviation called Tena a “dear friend” and “mentor.”

Tena is survived by his daughters; his son, Jose “Joey” Tena, from his first marriage; his grandson, Pepe X. Tena; and his wife, Lily Glazer.