Beach memorial honors surfer Mike Fisher, who battled brain cancer – OCRegister

Posted On: March 8, 2020

Jack Fisher and friends scatter ashes and flowers during a paddle out ceremony for his brother and surfer, Mike Fisher Saturday, March 7, 2020 in Huntington Beach. Fisher passed away from brain cancer last November. (Photo courtesy of Christine Fay)
Mourners gather on the pier during a paddle out ceremony for surfer, Mike Fisher Saturday, March 7, 2020 in Huntington Beach. Fisher passed away from brain cancer last November. (Photo courtesy of Christine Fay)
Over a hundred people attend a paddle out ceremony for surfer, Mike Fisher Saturday, March 7, 2020 in Huntington Beach. Fisher passed away from brain cancer last November. (Photo by Michael Fernandez, Contributing Photographer)
Hug from a friend, Ian Bork, center, hugs Jack Fisher during a paddle out ceremony for Fisher’s brother and surfer, Mike Fisher Saturday, March 7, 2020 in Huntington Beach. Fisher passed away from brain cancer last November. (Photo by Michael Fernandez, Contributing Photographer)
Over 100 people attend a paddle out ceremony for surfer, Mike Fisher Saturday, March 7, 2020 in Huntington Beach. Fisher passed away from brain cancer last November. (Photo by Michael Fernandez, Contributing Photographer)
Kari Cozza says a few words about her friend and surfer, Mike Fisher and his mother Nancy during a paddle out ceremony Saturday, March 7, 2020 in Huntington Beach. Fisher passed away from brain cancer last November. (Photo by Michael Fernandez, Contributing Photographer)
Jack Fisher says a few words about his brother and surfer, Mike Fisher during a paddle out ceremony Saturday, March 7, 2020 in Huntington Beach. Fisher passed away from brain cancer last November. (Photo by Michael Fernandez, Contributing Photographer)
Mike Fisher’s mother, Nancy Fisher, right, receives a hug from her friend Kari Cozza during a paddle out ceremony for surfer, Mike Fisher Saturday, March 7, 2020 in Huntington Beach. Fisher passed away from brain cancer last November. (Photo by Michael Fernandez, Contributing Photographer)
Surrounded by the boards Mike Fisher shaped, Michael McDougal says a few words about his friend and surfer, Mike Fisher as host Rick “Rockin Fig” Fignetti, left, listens during a paddle out ceremony Saturday, March 7, 2020 in Huntington Beach. Fisher passed away from brain cancer last November. (Photo by Michael Fernandez, Contributing Photographer)
Nancy Fisher wipes a tear as she listens to people speak about her son and surfer, Mike Fisher during a paddle out ceremony for Saturday, March 7, 2020 in Huntington Beach. Fisher passed away from brain cancer last November. (Photo by Michael Fernandez, Contributing Photographer)
Nancy Fisher greets friends during a paddle out ceremony for her son and surfer, Mike Fisher Saturday, March 7, 2020 in Huntington Beach. Fisher passed away from brain cancer last November. (Photo by Michael Fernandez, Contributing Photographer)
Flowers and ashes wrapped in leaves on display during a paddle out ceremony for surfer, Mike Fisher Saturday, March 7, 2020 in Huntington Beach. Fisher passed away from brain cancer last November. (Photo by Michael Fernandez, Contributing Photographer)
Ian Bork says a few words about his friend and surfer, Mike Fisher during a paddle out ceremony Saturday, March 7, 2020 in Huntington Beach. Fisher passed away from brain cancer last November. (Photo by Michael Fernandez, Contributing Photographer)
Andy Smith says a few words about his friend and surfer, Mike Fisher during a paddle out ceremony Saturday, March 7, 2020 in Huntington Beach. Fisher passed away from brain cancer last November. (Photo by Michael Fernandez, Contributing Photographer)
Adam “Bushman” Orozco, left, and Mathew Taylor blow the conch to start the paddle out ceremony for surfer, Mike Fisher Saturday, March 7, 2020 in Huntington Beach. Fisher passed away from brain cancer last November. (Photo by Michael Fernandez, Contributing Photographer)
Ben Fisher and his girlfriend Kristen Gomez listen to people speaking about his brother during a paddle out ceremony for surfer, Mike Fisher Saturday, March 7, 2020 in Huntington Beach. Fisher passed away from brain cancer last November. (Photo by Michael Fernandez, Contributing Photographer)
Friends and family look at photos of surfer Mike Fisher during his paddle out ceremony Saturday, March 7, 2020 in Huntington Beach. Fisher passed away from brain cancer last November. (Photo by Michael Fernandez, Contributing Photographer)
Pastor Jason Robinette speaks during a paddle out ceremony for surfer, Mike Fisher Saturday, March 7, 2020 in Huntington Beach. Fisher passed away from brain cancer last November. (Photo by Michael Fernandez, Contributing Photographer)
Pastor Jason Robinette speaks during a paddle out ceremony for surfer, Mike Fisher Saturday, March 7, 2020 in Huntington Beach. Fisher passed away from brain cancer last November. (Photo by Michael Fernandez, Contributing Photographer)
Mike Fisher carries in his board after completing a 50-mile paddle from Malibu to Huntington Beach in 2009. Fisher died Nov. 16 from brain cancer at age 28. A paddle-out memorial will be held on March 7, 2020 at the Huntington Beach Pier. (Photo by Leonard Ortiz/SCNG)

Even during his most difficult times, Mike Fisher would try to make others laugh.

Despite the chemotherapy, radiation, surgeries, seizures and pills he endured as he battled brain cancer for more than a decade, he always found reasons to smile and bring joy to others.

Fisher, a former Huntington Beach High School surf team member who died at age 28 in November, was remembered on Saturday, March 7, during a beach memorial and paddle out at the Huntington Beach Pier, a place he loved to catch waves up until he became too sick to handle the ocean.

In the water, a group chanted his name — “Mike, Mike Mike!” — while others shouted out from the pier, dropping flowers that scattered on the ocean’s surface. Surfers held hands and bowed their heads in prayer, before splashing the saltwater to the sky during the traditional surfer memorial tribute.

Friend and local surf shop owner Rick “Rockin Fig” Fignetti led the memorial on the north side of the pier prior to the paddle out, where more than 100 friends and loved ones came to pay tribute to Fisher, who was raised in Long Beach until he was a teen and transplanted to Huntington Beach.

Fignetti described Fisher, calling him Fish, as a talented, charismatic surfer who was always good with kids and never hesitated to stick up for someone being bullied.

Aubrey Neuman, a longtime friend who first met Fisher in elementary school in Long Beach, was one of those people he defended, after two girls threatened her for hanging out with the blue-eyed boy.

“I went home that day visibly upset and very scared. The following day I was a little nervous to sit next to you, but in true Fisher fashion when I walked in the door you jumped up, yelled my name and ushered me over,” she recalled. “I felt as if I owed everything to you. You introduced me to all of your friends, who are still my friends to this day.”

Like many others who spoke, Neuman said Fisher encouraged her to try surfing, sharing his stoke for the sport he loved so much.

After learning Fisher had brain cancer following his senior year of high school, the community rallied to “Save Mike’s Head,” with fundraisers generating nearly $60,000 to cover the cocktail of 42 pills he had to swallow daily and other medical costs.

“There was never a moment when all hope was lost,” Fignetti said.

The following year, four of Fisher’s friends completed a 50-mile fundraising paddle relay from Duke’s Restaurant in Malibu to Huntington Beach to show their support for Fisher, who did several legs of the long trek down the coast. That same year, a surf contest in Ventura was dedicated to him, an event in which Fisher also competed.

The tumor on the left side of Fisher’s brain was removed after the original diagnosis. But when he was 19, it returned. Doctors again removed the tumor.

In the following years, he’d travel to surf spots in Costa Rica and Hawaii. More recently, when he could no longer ride waves, he took to shaping boards. Two wood boards he created were hoisted up at the memorial service.

Four years ago, at age 24, the tumor returned again. But this time it was inoperable, doctors said.

Younger brother Jack Fisher told stories from their childhood, Saturday, such as how Mike Fisher rubbed toothpaste on a leg cramp to help out his little brother.

“Being my big brother, I believed he knew everything,” Jack said, drawing a chuckle from the crowd. “It worked, just because of the placebo effect. He was always there to help, always there to smile and laugh. Even through all this stuff, he was always positive.”

Jack Fisher said he was happy to see so many people come out to share stories about his brother, who affected so many lives.

“So many people I don’t even know, who are here today, that know him personally and who care for him and love him,” he said as mom Nancy and older brother Ben listened from the crowd. “I appreciate everyone for coming out. Mike is in a better spot now. He was suffering for a long time, he’s in a better spot. It’s hard to lose a loved one. That was my best friend for a long time. It’s not what I want, obviously. I want him to stay around forever.”

Fisher was someone who everyone wanted to be around, Jack said.

“Everyone loved him. Everyone wanted to be with that guy,” he said. “And I was lucky enough to call him my brother. He was truly amazing.”

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