Windsurfing Magazine

kristin
2008-08-19 14:00:00 | 615 views | 3 Comments

May 31, 1973 to July 18, 2008

July 24, 2008 - Damien Lael Winters, of The Dalles, OR, much beloved son of Hank and Jeannette Winters of Hamilton, MT, and brother of Heather Winters-Jones, and uncle of Griffin Jones both of Missoula, MT, died of drowning Friday, July 18,2008 in a tragic windsurfing accident on the Columbia River. He was thirty five years of age. Damien died doing what he loved to do: complex acrobatics on a sail board in high winds on the Columbia.

Born in No. Tarrytown, NY, and raised in Montana. He attended Corvallis Schools from grade one to High School graduation. He was a member of the Lost Trail (MT) ski team, and the Missoula Ski Education Foundation Ski Team. He attended the University of MT for two years, studying journalism, and transferred to Denver Art Institute and then Seattle Art Institute. He moved to Eugene, OR, and then Hood River, OR, in early 1990's, and recently purchased a house in The Dalles, OR. Damien was self employed as a professional glass blower.

Damien was an expert, avid snow boarder (ninth in the Nation at the U S National Snowboarding Championships, at Vail, CO in 1993), skier, windsurfer, and an accomplished electric bass guitar player.

Most of all he was a most loving, giving, non-judgmental person and good friend…a beautiful free spirit and gentle soul. He is missed by 100's in the snowboarding and windsurfing, and art communities, and beyond words for his parents, sister, nephew, and family all over the USA.

One friend of Damien's said, “he was my best friend, I could have never found a better friend.” Another said,”he'd give you his last piece of bread.” Another said, “he was such a wonderful person, amazing artist, and a generous, kind hearted human, and his earthly presence is sorely missed.” Another said, “His last moments on this earth were so happy, he was ripping and sooo happy.” Another said, “we sadly miss him.”

The family expresses very, very deep gratitude to his good friend Phil Sisson, and two good samaritans Scott Ringenberg and the ER Doc, Lawrence, from Canada who administered CPR and to the EMT's and Sheriff Dept. all who valiantly tried to save Damien, and especially to his dear friend Jennifer.

The world is full of good people. The Good Lord decided to take Damien home in the prime of his life…now “forever young.”