Owner of Jack’s shop passes away

Jose Paul Corona

His shop stands as a beacon to surfers and tourists, looking out

over the Pacific. On the once ordinary sidewalk out front, which he

was often seen cleaning with his own two hands, Mike Abdelmuti helped

create a unique and timeless walk of fame.

Surf City lost a friend and benefactor last week when Abdelmuti

passed away at the age of 63 Tuesday, July 23 following a 2 1/2 year

battle with lung and liver cancer.

The owner of Jack’s Surfboards and longtime Huntington Beach

businessman will be sorely missed in the community.

“He was fun to work with,” said former employee and friend Shelby

Dickerson. “He always made it fun.”

An emotional Dickerson remembered his kind nature and sense of

humor.

Dickerson, 27, worked for Abdelmuti for eight years, she said --

much longer than she intended.

“He’s the only reason I stayed for that long,” she said. “He was

just a pleasure to work for.”

His nephew and business partner Bob Abdel described his uncle as

friendly and warm-hearted.

“He had such a clean heart,” Abdel said. “He treated every

[employee] like his own kid.”

Friend and fellow Main Street businessman Bob Bolen fondly recalls

taking fishing trips to Catalina Island and San Diego with Abdelmuti.

“He had a presence and a booming voice,” the owner of Huntington

Beach Realty said, adding that it was a voice he would never forget.

Bolen said he had to hold the phone receiver away from his ear

when his friend called.

Abdelmuti opened Jack’s Surfboards in 1971 and saw it become a

city icon. He was a savvy entrepreneur and a philanthropist with a

soft spot for Huntington Beach

“He had great business acumen, he was a damn good businessman,”

Bolen said.

In 1995 he gave $10,000 to the Huntington Beach Police Officers

Assn., saying that he wanted to thank police officers for all of

their hard work.

“His generosity to the city as a whole is something that we all

appreciated,” said Councilman Peter Green, who described Abdelmuti as

a hard-working business man.

He was also the developer of the Ocean View Promenade at Pacific

Coast Highway and Main Street where Jack’s Surfboards is currently

located. “He understood the business of retail in Downtown Huntington

Beach,” said Councilman Ralph Bauer.

If a local business owner Downtown was having a tough time, Bauer

said he would often tell them to go speak with Abdelmuti.

“He was a hands-on businessman,” Bauer said, “He was there

everyday and he oversaw his business.”

His pride in the revitalized Downtown was obvious. Abdelmuti owned

his own steam-cleaning machine and would often be seen in front of

his store cleaning the sidewalk with it. He would also clean the

sidewalks in front of neighboring businesses. The city had the area

steam washed, but Abdelmuti did it anyway.

But his most notable and lasting contribution is the Surfing Walk

of Fame, which he helped to establish in front of his shop by

donating $20,000. The Surfing Walk of Fame honors those individuals

who have contributed significantly to the surfing culture.

When the building at Pacific Coast Highway and Main Street was

constructed Abdelmuti had a plan, Abdel said.

He knew from the very beginning that he would build a Surfing Walk

of Fame in front of his store. It was his way of giving back to the

community, Abdel said.

“He had that vision from day one,” his tearful nephew recalled.

Abdelmuti was always a wonderful supporter of events centered

around surfing. It’s an image that is synonymous with the city, said

Councilwoman Shirley Dettloff.

“I always admired Mike for his dedication for what is very

important in Huntington Beach, which is our surf image,” she said.

Time is something that Abdelmuti always seemed to have plenty of.

Both Bauer and Green would stop in at Jack’s Surfboards to see him

on occasion and he was always there willing to listen.

Abdelmuti’s body was taken back to his native Palestine where he

was buried on Sunday.

He is survived by his wife Marli, his three sons; Jamal, Hamed and

Nidal and three daughters; Jamila, Laila and Nadia.

While a memorial service has not been planned, friends will say

goodbye to Abdelmuti today at 10 a.m., shortly before the Surfing

Walk of Fame induction ceremony is held.

“[His death is] a great loss to the business community and to

surfing,” Bolen said.

her former employer.

* JOSE PAUL CORONA covers City Hall and education. He can be

reached at (714) 965-7173 or by e-mail at jose.corona@latimes.com.