PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Fla. — A renowned local surfer who was found dead Nov. 7 will be laid to rest next week, while surfers are invited for a "paddle out" to honor his life and impact a week after.
Joe Roland, 73, will be laid to rest 10 a.m. on Nov. 19 at Community Presbyterian Church. The paddle out will be at the southern side of the Jacksonville Beach pier Nov. 23 at noon, the church stated in a social media post.
Roland was found after St. Johns County Fire Rescue received a call around 8 a.m. that man, still attached to his surfboard, was found on the beach behind a private home along Ponte Vedra Boulevard near San Diego Road. He was taken to the hospital and was later reported to have died.
Roland was inducted into the East Coast Surfing Hall of Fame in 1998. The Hall of Fame's biography said Roland began surfing in 1964 at 13 years old.
He was known for his "electric blond afro," and after numerous successes he picked up sponsors and launched his own signature boards and labels. He won at the 1968 East Coast championship and repeated his East Coast win the next year. He also competed in World Surfing Championships in 1968 and 1970.
He later worked for the city of Jacksonville as a computer programmer.
His friends called him a legend.
“The most amazing athlete in the water in our era," Chris Prescott said. "But the man who was a very good father, a great husband, a fantastic spiritual leader and someone who you could trust and be there for you anytime you needed him. I think that’s what we need to really dwell on.”
“Faith, family, then surfing,” friend and pastor Mickey Ross told the Florida Times-Union. “Joe's focus was, he never met anybody he didn’t show love to, he never had a bad word for anybody. He would show his love for them through his action. His words. Everything.”
