Posted by Newspaper Transcriber on Saturday, October 21, 2006 at 18:40:36 :

Dennis Michael Chavez

When Dennis Michael Chavez was after ling cod, nothing could budge him off of the Pillar Point breakwater.

"He would walk along the breakwater, and I don't care if there was a storm, I don't care if there were waves breaking over," said Mr. Chavez' companion of seven years, Susana Maurer of Moss Beach. "He would walk out there and just cast."

Mr. Chavez, of Moss Beach, died Aug. 21 at San Mateo Medical Center, following a brief illness. He was 50.

"He will be remembered for his wit and gentle sensitivity toward others," said Maurer.

Mr. Chavez was born Sept. 1, 1955, in El Paso, Texas. After growing up and attending school there, he became a journeyman plumber in his later teens.

He loved to travel and trekked around the country until he discovered San Francisco, where he lived for a couple of years. One day, a friend introduced him to the Coastside, and he moved to the coast 15 years ago.

Mr. Chavez' true passion, said Maurer, was fishing along the shoreline as opposed to out on the open ocean. He particularly enjoyed braving the Pillar Point Harbor breakwater, fishing pole in hand.

The harbormaster would try in vain to persuade him back to land in inclement weather, said Maurer.

"But no. He loved it out there."

He also loved his Chihuahua dog, Max, and gardening, raising various flowers "whatever he could get to grow" in his garden, said Maurer. "He loved exotics."

Mr. Chavez is survived by his companion of seven years, Susana Maurer of Moss Beach, and his daughter Lorraine and son Michael, three grandchildren, mother Elva Chavez, sister and brother, all of Texas.

Friends are invited to a memorial service which will be held at 4 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 24, at 620 Vue de Mer Ave. in Moss Beach. For information or directions, call 728-3415.

In lieu of flowers, friends are invited to join in lighting candles at dusk in Mr. Chavez' garden, following the memorial service.

Half Moon Bay Review and Pescadero Pebble, Wednesday, September 20, 2006