“If skateboarding was a town, this guy was it’s mayor. Andy Kessler, one of the good ones, died monday night, “from cardiac arrest due to an allergic reaction to a wasp sting he sustained on Montauk, Long Island.” from What The Fuck Have You Done.
I don’t pretend to know anything about skateboarding, I just admire it from afar. It’s roots are close in spirit to my punk rock roots – let’s get it done, basically. Kessler’s death from a bee sting just points out the tenuousness of life and its beautiful ironies. R.I.P.
I’m am struck by the randomness of life. This week has had its lessons. The photo illustrates in one moment, embracing the moment.
Thanks for that!
RIP AKessler and JCumpston
August 11th, 2009 at 11:07 pmAndy Kessler was truly one of the great ones dedicated to his craft…devoted to the heart, art and soul of riding a plank of wood on concrete. He was NYC’s answer to LA’s Tony Alva. He was there in the beginning of modern skateboarding (early 70s) building the foundation of a movement and in the end, he was in the mix supporting the efforts of those in their youth following a very similar path.
RIP Andy Kessler. You will be greatly missed and forever remembered.
August 11th, 2009 at 11:49 pm[...] was a great dude, NO ONE could say anything …Boing Boing – http://www.boingboing.net/|||R.I.P. Skateboarder Andy Kessler | pampelmoose Dave Allen of Gang …If skateboarding was a town, this guy was [...]
August 12th, 2009 at 12:28 am[...] R.I.P. Skateboarder Andy Kessler | pampelmoose Dave Allen of Gang …If skateboarding was a town, this guy was it’s mayor. Andy Kessler, one of the good ones, died monday night, from cardiac arrest due to an allergic.Read More [...]
August 12th, 2009 at 1:17 am[...] R.I.P. Skateboarder Andy Kessler | pampelmoose Dave Allen of Gang …If skateboarding was a town, this guy was it [...]
August 13th, 2009 at 2:36 amDear Skateboarders,
Let me share the great news with you that Grandmaster of 108 the short documentary that I shot and produced had recently got distributed by Snag Films! It is about a 46-year old New York City skateboarding legend Andy Kessler whose dedication to this controversial endeavor made him an advocate for skateboarding.
Andy had been battling with hardships in most of his life, he survived things that would normally kill people therefore it is difficult to believe that 2 years after the film was completed he passed away due to an allergic reaction to a wasp sting he sustained on Montauk, Long Island on August 10, 2009 while building a skatepark there.
Knowing what a heroic figure he was in the skateboarding community I found it important for all of his fans, followers and the wider audience to see this film even if it only shows a small segment of his life.
You can watch the film free by clicking on the following link: http://www.snagfilms.com/films/title/grandmaster_of_108/
Dorottya Mathe
March 4th, 2011 at 8:52 pm