STUART -- It was a fitting final farewell Saturday for Stephen Schaefer, who was killed last week in a shark attack off Stuart Beach. The gathering was an emotional one for many of Schaefer's closest friends, like Michael Stratman.
"It was unbelieveable," Stratman says. "Everyone had tears in their eyes."
Friends and fellow surfers of Schaefer took to the seas, to honor their fallen friend, paddling out in the same waters that tragically took stephen's life. High school friend Bill Krueger found the ceremonial paddle out very moving.
"[It was] very spiritual, very nice to hear what people had to say and to recognize his great demeanor," says Krueger. "He was an awesome guy."
Once beyond the crashing waves, the group formed a ceremonial circle, leaving their sadness on the shore and cheerfully tossing flowers into the deep blue waters to honor Schaefer's memory. And for Schaefer's friends Stratman and John White, they had no fear of the lurking dangers that had taken their friend.
"I think steve saw us all out here and he knew everyone was out there," Stratman states confidently. "It was a good thing."
"it's funny how it started out as a gloomy day, rainy lookin," longtime friend White says. "And then when everyone got together the sun came out and really made it a nice close to the day."
A day that childhood friend Randi Borrack knows Steve would have definitely enjoyed.
"He would've loved it. He wouldn't come in for hours," says Borrack. "That time he spent out there, you could go to the Bahamas and back. That would be Steve for hours."
And to further honor their friend, Surf Central Surf Shop, the place that Schaefer would hang out the most, has set up a memorial fund, and the money from that fund will go towards the building of a statue to honor Schaefer here at Stuart Beach...a beach that he loved so much.
