Fred Knapp's Friends Join in Paddle Out to Celebrate Life of the Point Pleasant Beach Resident

Fred Knapp's spirit lives on in the sound of a board smacking the surface, in the quiet, teasing dance between surfer and cresting waves, in the moment when the surfer rises to take the next curl.

A group of Knapp's friends captured that spirit when they joined together in a Paddle Out at the Harris Avenue Beach in Bay Head.

A Paddle Out is the surfers' way of honoring one of their own.

The surfers paddle out beyond their friend's favorite local surf break and arrange themselves in a circle. Sometimes flowers are laid, prayers said or memories shared.

Knapp, 67, died on March 22 at his vacation home in Newfoundland, PA.

The longtime Point Pleasant Beach resident was known as one of the great surfers in northern Ocean County, as noted by his friend, Steve Messenger, in a local surfing blog announcing the event.

Born in Staten Island, N.Y., Knapp lived there for 20 years before moving to Point Pleasant Beach in 1964.

Knapp served in the U.S. Army. He was a driver for Texaco for 20 years and then a salesman for Surf Chevrolet in Point Pleasant Beach for 20 years before retiring.

In addition to being an avid surfer, Knapp also enjoyed fishing and spending quality time with his family and friends at Normandy Beach.

He was predeceased by his sister-in-law, Maureen O'Shaughnessy, and brothers-in-law, Ed and Bill Finnerty.

Surviving are the love of his life, his beloved wife of 47 years, Patricia Finnerty Knapp; his loving daughter, Colleen Knapp of Toms River; the light of his life, his cherished granddaughter, Carlie; his dear sisters, Elizabeth Knapp of New Foundland, PA., and Michele Parzych and husband Will of Moscow, PA.; his nieces, Maureen O'Shaughnessy, Allison Glossinger and husband Jason, Barbara Parzych; nephews Eddie and Jerry O'Shaughnessy; and cousins, Walter, Scott and Allen Ireland.