Steven Joseph Adler (born July 15, 1969) was the youngest of four sons of Kathy and Don Adler of Long Beach.
At a young age Steve was nicknamed “Opie” after the Andy Griffith Show character, a name which he answered to with a smile even as an adult.
Whether it was Steven, Steve, Opie or simply “Adler,” one thing is for sure, he had a lot of friends. Steve grew up in a happy, active family with three brothers on Sunfield Ave. in Lakewood.
The Adler family loved camping, especially at the beach. They often packed up the 4 boys in their orange VW Camper and spent many summer days at Leo Carillo State Beach, near Malibu. Steve was in Indian Guides and loved the outdoors.
He started boogie boarding and surfing early and became a part of the group of surfers from Lakewood High School that would frequent Seal Beach and Bolsa Chica during the summer.
Steve began his profession in the surfing industry at age 18 when he took his long time hobby of sanding and glassing surfboards for friends and formed his own business “The Surfboard Factory.”
He set up a shop in nearby Westminster and carved himself a niche in the industry.
The Surfboard Factory logo, represented by a sunflower, became so popular that Adler also developed his own clothing line and T-Shirts, sweats, caps could be found in many local Orange County shops. Steve later sold his business but remained involved in the industry, working with well-known local shapers such as Jason Hoffman, Tim Stamps, and Brad Nadell of EZ Foam.
Never far from the ocean, Steve lived in Huntington Beach, Seal Beach, and, for the last six years, Surfside Colony.
In addition to surfing, Steve had more recently discovered a new love: Stand Up Paddle Boarding (SUP).
He and long-time friend ,Jodie Nelson, created a new business “The SUPspot,” providing SUP lessons for beginners and dedicated to “”All Things Stand-Up Paddleboarding.” Steve was a walking and talking SUP advocate, it was his passion and ultimately people for years to come will associate his name with the growth and the popularity of SUP in southern California.
He was very involved in competitions and races and recently had been ranked second place in his category standings.
The weekend before his passing Steve was involved in a SUP competition at Cabrillo Beach in San Pedro. With only 40 yards left to go from being a top finisher, he experienced severe chest pain and was unable to finish the race.
Lifeguards on scene checked him and told him he was probably dehydrated and that he might have pulled muscle in his chest.
Although Steve did take it easy for a few days, on Thursday, March 11, he was back at work at Stamps Surfboards when he suffered an aneurysm of the ascending aorta and collapsed.
Paramedics rushed him to Huntington Beach Hospital but he never regained consciousness. Besides his large Irish Catholic family and many friends, he leaves behind a 13 year old son, Clark. Steve’s father, Don Adler, died in 1991 at age 49 also of the same aorta genetic defect.
It was a day of great sorrow when nearly 1,000 people gathered on Tuesday March 16 at Steve’s funeral at St. Cyprian’s Catholic Church in Long Beach. On Sunday morning, April 18th a paddle out ceremony will be held at Surfside Colony Beach and everyone is invited to attend .
A college fund for his son Clark Adler has been established, with donations accepted at any branch of Farmers & Merchants Bank. On Monday evening March 22, a fundraising evening at Tsunami’s Sushi Restaurant in Sunset Beach (where Steve also worked part-time as a bartender) had a silent auction and donated 100% of all profits of business that night to the Clark Adler College Fund. Kathy Adler, Steve’s Mom and Clark Adler, Steve’s son thank everyone for their kind words and support during this difficult time. They realize that Steve touched many lives and many people miss him.
Steve had been training recently with friend, Jodie Nelson, to help her compete in the SUP Paddle with a Purpose race that was on March 28 from Catalina to Dana Point.
Jodie planned to participate in the event as a solo paddler. She was the first ever female to do so, although she knew she wouldn’t be alone as Adler’s spirit would be with her as she paddled 40 miles across the Pacific Ocean, which was so much a part of his life.
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