Dorian "Doc" Paskowitz has passed away at 93 years old. His legacy will be forever remembered; his memories will inspire millions of surfers worldwide. "The greatest thing in life is health," Dorian once told.
He lived the ultimate surfing life. Dorian "Doc" Paskowitz, the Texan surfer who raised nine children in a camper, is one of the most important personalities in the history of surfing.
Dorian was born on March 3rd, 1921, in Galveston, Texas, USA. He was one of the three children born to Russian Jewish emigrants Louis and Rose Paskowitz. At only 12, he rode his first wave.
After moving to San Diego, he worked as a lifeguard at Mission Beach. In 1946, Dorian "Doc" Paskowitz graduated from Stanford Medical School.
Later in 1956, he moved to Israel and tried to "get Arabs and Jews surfing together." His surfboards were confiscated in the line-up, but he never missed a chance to hit the surf near the Gaza Strip and share his knowledge with the locals.
After marrying his third wife and love of his life, Juliette, "Doc" lived the true spirit of surfing for more than two decades, in a surf van. His kids never lacked (informal) education, and he always shared his healthy lifestyle values with the whole family.
The Paskowitz clan lived in parking lots, roads and dunes. And they surfed every day. Between 1975 and mid-1980s, "Doc" founded the Paskowitz International Surf School, the Paskowitz Surfing Psychiatric Clinic, the Paskowitz Surfing Camp and Surfing For Peace.
Dorian "Doc" Paskowitz never missed a wave. "When he's away from the ocean, he's an old man. He's a boy when he surfs," his wife Juliette once revealed.
Kelly Slater revealed that Dorian's biggest wish was "to see peace in Gaza between Israel and Palestine and always believed that those who could surf together, could live together peacefully."
