UPDATE 7/28/11: Although the funeral is passed, our memory of them will never pass. See how happy they are? This picture was taken about a month ago. Precious comments below (not the updates, look further down). If I take down this page, the comments will be lost, so that’s why I’ll keep the page up. I might transfer the comments from this page to another post when I have time.
UPDATE 7/12/11 at 3:39PM:
Memorial Service for David, DeDe, Luke and Ryan Houghton
When: Saturday, July 16, 2011 at 10AM
Where: Twin Lakes Church, 2701 Cabrillo College Drive, Aptos, California
Luncheon reception in the Church social hall will immediately follow the service.
Check here frequently for updates and needs. New note below.
7/13/11 4:54PM Note: Reception will follow the service. In lieu of flowers, the family is requesting that donations be made out to Twin Lakes Church and the Handicap Scuba Association.
7/13/11 12:40AM Note: I’ve been talking with Dave’s friends and they suggested that they organize the beach event (as opposed to me). Considering that I feel overwhelmed, that might be a good idea.
7/12/11 5PM Note: We’re a little up in the air on a beach gathering. Also I’m becoming more aware of wishes of the family and there are other ideas for spreading the ashes that we need to consider. Might need a large boat for family. Also, some have said that if we’re overwhelmed, we can just do the memorial service. Fine with me, but I’m still going to want to visit with you all and hear your stories. Please leave comments if you want a gathering. Some have mentioned Seabright beach as opposed to Its Beach. Seabright is better for high tide and we went there with David often. We have folks who have volunteered for sound system (Dave E.) and 2000w generator (Chris A.) so that is taken care of – thanks. Not sure about permits. Gerry is checking on Its beach.
7/12/11 10:35AM Funeral Update: Still shooting for church memorial service 4 – 6 days from now. Waiting for venues to call us back with availability. We also want to scatter the ashes with a beach memorial a day or two after the church service. Does anybody know a good location for scattering the ashes at sea? I was thinking lighthouse point or just 100 yards north of that at “Its Beach.” I have a professional sound system with JBL loud speakers, just need a generator. If noise for neighbors is a concern, we can point the spkrs out to sea. I’m not sure if a permit is needed. If someone else wants to take over the sound engineering so I don’t have to worry about it, please contact me at 650 888-1816. See update above – these needs are taken care of.
Contact information: John Houghton, Cell: 650 888-1816, email: john at johnhoughton dot com. I reply from my mobilecastmedia address, so if you have that, you can use either one – they both go to the same email inbox. Text my cell if you’re not getting through. My cell doesn’t have good reception in Santa Cruz, so give me your number and I’ll call you from a land line if nearby. If I don’t respond to your email, resend it – getting hundreds of emails per day.
To John -Thank you so much for all of your time putting this together. It has been wonderful to see the pictures and read the information from yourself as well as comments from others. As many of us knew, by have the gift of knowing them, that this family truly “lived”. This site has become a way to celebrate and honor what they lived day to day. It is with the deepest sorrow we say goodbye and with the deepest honor to say that I knew them. Thank you and your family for considering all the people that have been blessed by this family. We will continue to check this page for information regarding funeral. Respectfully – Cassie Kelley
Ryan was the best friend anyone could have, what was sad is he invited me the day over before he passed and I couldn’t go. I just wished I had time to say goodbye.
-Nathan White
To the Houghton family- Thank you for your updates. I was Luke’s fifth grade teacher. I’m sorry to say I won’t make it to the funeral due to previous engagements. It’s overwhelming to think of this tragedy, and I thank you for using this site to celebrate them, and for teaching us life lessons. I know Luke is reading Harry Potter to the angels. You’re in our prayers.
I met DeDe when we were both in Nursing Mothers Council.
She had a deep love for life and good sense of humor.
May this time of sadness someday bring you peace.
blessings to each of you,
Raina
John, we really appreciate the updates.
Please let me know if anyone needs any help with the beach memorial organization.
Caroline 831 426-0958 or dollarsandsenseinfo@gmail.com
I don’t know if you are planning an event for after the Memorial Service where loved ones can share and spend more time together. If you are, I wanted to tell you about a free online service called Eventbrite.
EventBrite is super easy to use. Create a free account, create an event and promote it using a link. The tool collects RSVP info, or if you don’t need to know who specifically is coming you can at least see the number of people. It’s especially helpful to get information out. You can put the link in email (for example, to the email list for Aqua Safaris), on your blog, Facebook pages, etc.
Essentially you create an event, put in all the details, including if it’s potluck or whatever, and you get a link to use where everyone can get the details and let you know if they’re coming. It can be a private event or a public event which will get picked up by search engines, depending on your wishes. It would really help get the word out about the after memorial event if you have one. And, it’s free.
If you want to know more, I’d be happy to talk to anyone about it. I can help you set up the event and get the link to John for the blog, etc.
Melody A.
Letting everyone know that Foster and Shared Adventures is planning something during the Day at the Beach. Here’s a note from Dean:
We are also going to do some kind of opening wreath ceremony in the surf, or something like that. So if some of the family can manage to come down, we’ll treat them like royalty. Or they can join us totally anonymously and just observe if they would prefer.
We’re all still in shock over the loss (in fact I’m welling up right now
as I type). But we’ll all jump through whatever hoops it takes to honor
Dave & DeDe’s inimitable contributions through the years.
And this from Foster:
We are all very shocked to hear about the passing of the Houghton’s. For
over 15 years they have been great friends and were apart of Day on the
Beach. They will truly will be missed.
We will be dedicating that day to them in a number of ways. One is on our
t-shirts. If you would like to order one or more you can go to:
http://www.sharedadventures.org/DotB.htm.
________
The cut off for ordering shirts is 2:00 pm Thursday. Foster told Chris that there are a couple of other people mentioned on the t-shirts who passed away in the last couple of weeks. I asked to see the artwork but I haven’t seen it. I know they’re so busy with the Day at the Beach that I don’t really expect to get the artwork in time to share.
Melody
Thank you John for posting the picture above. I come each day to read your updates and see new photo’s. What a fabulous picture of the family. I took one look at Dede and it filled my heart with happiness to see her smile again. Thank you. Your doing a great job, hang in there, and don’t be afraid to ask for help. Our Delaveaga and B-40 School community is filled with parents and children that would love to help, if you need it. Your not alone.
Frances and Family
Here is the URL for the Handicap Scuba Association.
https://www.hsascuba.com/scripts/SupportingMember.php
To quote David, “Let’s go diving!!!”
Thank you for all of the information, the stories, and the pictures.
I met David and DeDe in 2009. They immediately took me with their charm and zest for life. David always had time to talk, and was genuinely interested in hearing about how you were doing. They were the most caring and genuine people that I have ever met. For this reason, when I told them I was interested in development, seeking opportunities to do something, and David told me about Hurricane Jimena and the needs of Mulege, I listened and packed to go down there within a matter of days. It was that advice, and the genuine character behind it, that has shaped my life. The Houghton family had that kind of impact. I am absolutely heart broken. I got an email response from David the day before the accident that was as warm and encouraging as always.
Their desire to do good in the world, to live every day to its fullest, to understand things around them (like food systems), put them ahead of the rest.
They will be dearly missed.
I met David on my first “big” dive trip to Cozumel in 1991. I followed him and his friends, this time including DeDe to Cozumel again in 1992. Although I live in the Midwest (attended UCSC), for years I tried not to miss at least several summer dives with Dave and crew in Monterey Bay. My last dive with Dave was in 2006 in Indonesia (Wakatobi) where he certified me for Nitrox. Diving and traveling with the Houghtons was not only fun, but always safe. Even when I knew no one else going on the trips, I knew that Dave and DeDe would make me feel at home and happy to have me back. I can’t believe that I haven’t seen them since 2006. It’s times like these when you realize how fast it all goes by and how much more we could and should do to maintain connections that change our lives. The Houghtons changed my life. Diving changed my life. The good people they introduced me to changed my life. I would love to hear from any of you who might remember me. I remember you and even the recitations of THE RAVEN on edge of the water, waiting for the ceviche and cerveza.
My heart hurts thinking of the loss of David, DeDe and the boys. I went to high school with David and have lived vicariously through him for the last 20 years. I’d see David maybe once a year around Santa Cruz and he’d still have the same familiar warmth and spark in his greeting.
Thank you for the wonderful pictures. Our family is keeping you in our thoughts and prayers.
This is the picture I come to everyday…I love the spirit, joy, and love in thier beautiful faces.
Our dive group of 12, all associated through the Houghtons and Aqua Safaris, just returned from a dive trip in Mexico on Sunday. While under water on a peaceful dive site, I placed the now over two year old memory bracelet of the Houghton family on a vertical reef with a beautiful view of the dive site thinking this would be its resting place forever.
Yesterday I received an email from our faithful dive master that said he found my bracelet on the reef and would return it to me as it must have sentimental value. I emailed him the story of the Houghtons and explained they were the reason all of us still travel and dive together and that it was my intent for this memory bracelet to rest on this dive site as if they would be able to enjoy the view forever.
He responded and assured me he would replace the bracelet right away and that it would be our secret that it would remain in the marine sanctuary despite their rules.
Just wanted to share this with everyone.
Scott Belknap