Friends Unveil Memorials to 2 Canoeists

Looking out toward the ocean, friends of two paddlers who lost their lives at sea in January gathered Friday to unveil memorial benches at Silver Strand Beach.

The location was chosen because of the proximity to the waters where the friends used to paddle their outrigger canoe, accident survivor Ben Taitai said.

“They’re water people and it’s hard to keep them away,” he said. “This is where we came every morning to check the weather before paddling.”

In January, John Deblin, 50, and Scott Sullenger, 35, joined Taitai and three others on an outrigger jaunt into the Santa Barbara Channel.

After rounding oil platform Gina, the men ran into fierce winds that flipped their boat. They clung to a pontoon in rough waters, but, after several hours, Deblin died of hypothermia. Sullenger swam for help, but was lost at sea for weeks.

The others were rescued.

At Silver Strand Beach, the two 7-foot cream-colored concrete benches sit on a path facing the Channel Islands Harbor, where the men would frequently launch their outrigger. Each bench has a memorial plaque.

Lori Eckberg, Sullenger’s former girlfriend, said the location was a special one.

“We spent a lot of time here,” said Eckberg, who sobbed during the ceremony. “This is where we met.”

The memory of the men will continue with the benches, said Blake Cruz, 30, who grew up with Sullenger and lived near Deblin.

“I think they’d appreciate this,” he said. “There’s no better place than by the water. I used to call Scott ‘aqua man.’ ”

Taitai’s wife, Janeil Taitai , said a prayer before and after the unveiling.

“It’s good to remember,” she said. “It could have been a lot worse. Four were preserved, and we want to remember the ones we lost.”

The money for the benches was raised through local business donations and a fund-raiser barbecue in March.

“It’s an easy sell--everyone opened their heart to do what they could,” said Mike Sofley, who lives on Silver Strand.

Taitai said he appreciated people taking time from work to attend the unveiling.

“I don’t care if it’s four or 4 million who come,” he said. “It’s all brand new for me, and I don’t know if I’m doing it right, but I’m doing it from the heart.”

County Supervisor John Flynn said he came to support his friend Taitai and to pay tribute to the victims.

“It’s emotional for all of us as we remember Scott and John,” he said. “These individuals will always be remembered with these two symbols.”