TRIBUTE

Casey Bauer Wheat May 28, 2020

This is a tribute page to Casey Bauer Wheat
Oct 13 1970 / May 28 2020
R.I.P.

We'd love to hear a short message about Casey in the comments below.

Thank you,
~ The Wheat Family

⚡ Forever Wheaty ⚡

It’s hard for all us to imagine our lives without Casey. He touched each and every one of us in his own special way. Casey was a connector and his friendships ran deep and wide. Those of us fortunate enough to have spent time with him will always share that special bond. When blessed with his presence there was always a feeling that hit you deep inside your heart and soul.

I think we can all agree Casey was one of a kind and bigger than life. His smile. His style, in and out of the water was effortless and confident. His deep love and connection with music. Always dancing to the beat of his own drum. His wisdom and knowledge of the world and love for culture. His compassion for everyone. His mad fashion was next level. Only Casey could rock plaid pants, pink Adidas, a satin bomber jacket and his signature hat … tilted just his way. His walk and swagger could be spotted a block away. His signature whistle always got you pumped when hearing it in the line-up on an epic day. His wit and humor. His passion for surfing. Teaching kids and people from all over the world how to surf. That genuine connection he made with everyone that crossed his path. No one made you feel more loved. Even meeting someone for the first time he radiated energy that felt as if he knew them a lifetime. He had an aura about him that was angelic and powerful. Everyone was family.


His passion for life will carry on through all our beautiful memories we each share of him. The days ahead will feel empty and challenging for us all, but deep down we all know Casey will be by our side and he would want us to keep our heads up, always be positive, and love each other. God Bless ~ Scooter

– Forever Wheatie

Please post a short story about Casey below. Each comment will be moderated, so please keep that in mind when writing your personal story, and don’t forget to edit your text b4 you hit submit. Thanks!

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Recent Comments

  • Sympathy Card sent to Steve
    August 12, 2020 - 4:58 pm · Reply

    An Eskimo Proverb says
    perhaps they are not Stars
    but rather openings in Heaven
    where the Love of our lost ones pours through and
    shines down on us

  • SETH MATSON
    August 12, 2020 - 11:43 pm · Reply

    Casey and I had a unique friendship, and we created a lot of stories together. I was one day older than him. We were born on Oct 12th & 13th, 1970, but I ended up one year ahead of him in school. The first time I met Casey is a funny memory. A few of my friends and I were standing at the water’s edge after a surf by the Apartments, and he and Del walked up to us to say hi and meet us. Casey walked right up to me and said, “I heard you’re better than me.” Ha ha ha… In shock, I replied, “Uh, what?” And he said, “It’s that board. I heard you can do 360’s. It’s really thin, that’s probably why.” I had bought this used Irwin surfboard from F53 surf shop, where Panchos is now, and it was the thinnest board I had ever seen back then and super maneuverable. Anyway… we continued talking about the board, looking it up and down, and that was the day our friendship/competitive relationship started. I think that was around 1983-84. Wow, 37 years ago.

    Ziggy, Albert Taylor (Chaka), and I were besties back then, and Albert actually told Ziggy and me that we needed to hang out with Casey and Del, “Because they were cool.” Lol! Another funny memory, and I think the reason he got the nickname “Wheat Thin”, was because all of us groms would bike & skate over to Taco Bell on 9th St./PCH on a weekly basis to go grind. Casey ordered the same thing every time; 2 tortillas, 10 mild hot sauce packets, and a water. We’d all watch him as he’d open the tortillas, pour 5 taco sauces into each one, and then devour those things like it was the best thing he had ever eaten in his life! Ha ha ha… We’d tease him about only ordering that much food, and he’d be like, “Whatevez, it only cost me like 35 cents!” 35 cents!!!!!! What???”… 🙂

    Fast forward to HBHS days and beyond. Some of my best memories with Casey were our basketball games either at the Delaware Court or over at Scooter’s house. Casey was an amazing basketball player, much better than me, and we just happened to be the same size, so we’d always cover each other if we were on opposite teams. I fucking loved our competitions against each other, because that’s what they were. We were trying to beat each other even though 4 other dudes were on our teams… I used to go shoot around at Pay and Play by HBHS just to practice by myself and get a little exercise, and I remember one time I was out there for 20 mins feeling good, hitting all my shots, and all the sudden I see Casey walking up in his flip flops and holding his Air Jordans in his hand. I yelled out, “Wheat Dogg!!!! Come on, you don’t want any of this bro?!!!!” He just laughed and said, “Oh I don’t? I guess we’re gonna find out” in his soft voice with a little smirk grin… We high fived, and I asked him if he needed to warm up and he was like, “ No, and you can take it out.” Long story short, he ended up beating me 2 out of 3 games of one-on-one. We slapped hands, said, “Call ya later,” and he walked back to his car and off to his next destination. One time we played some two-on-two at Trey Mill’s house, and he was getting pissed at me for fouling him too hard. Bam!!! He goes up for a layup, and I got his shoulder to my chin. My bottom teeth went right through my lip. Blood gushing everywhere. He never said sorry or tried to help me right after it happened. He just walked the opposite direction. I think that one was for going out with his old chick. Oops! lol. But, I didn’t care about my lip. It was all part of the game, and we drove off together after we were done playing like it never happened…

    One of my other favorite things about Casey was watching him on the dance floor. He used to run the best hip hop clubs growing up, and when Biggie, Tribe, De La or Gangstar came on, and you were on the dance floor, you were sure to run into Casey out there. He had the best dance style and always had the biggest smile on his face. His smile was infectious, and if he saw you from across the dark room he would lift his head back, brighten up his eyes, like… “I see you Seth,” and I’d do the same back to him. We’d smile, and just get into it even more while dancing with our chicks. Those were the days…

    Casey and I liked all the same things; same girls (literally), same music, same waves, same lifestyle…everything (we’re Libras)… Sadly, our relationship became more distant as Casey fell deeper into drugs (not to say I was a perfect Angel). I really cared about him (and Zig), but we drifted apart. However, anytime we crossed paths it was like we never missed a day, and it was always, “Wheat Dogg!” “Seth Mats!” “What’s up buddy?…” I posted my appreciation about his recovery on FB a few years back, and he “liked” it. That’s all we needed to ever communicate about that, and I was happy he knew I was stoked for his success and recovery.

    Casey surfed in all the contests I ran throughout the years. Even when he was going through tough times, he’d show up. Casey won my Drains to Ocean Surf Contest in 2018, the same year I had used a photo of him surfing on all the posters that got put up all around town. He got the best photo the year before (when he got 2nd in the final) pulling into a sickest blue/green clear barrel at 9th St. Maybe the best barrel shot I’ve ever seen at 9th St. (It’s the 3rd shot down, 3rd row in the surf gallery on this website). He and I did a phone interview with the LA Times for the 2019 contest, where Casey said, “I never thought about it (about the litter & sunblocks), that it was killing coral and sea life. It’s going to take the effort of the community to really make a difference.” I really appreciated his support & loyalty.

    I learned a lot from Casey. Even by building this website for Steve, it’s shown me what an amazing person he was to everyone throughout his life and how many people truly loved him. They all wanted to be in photos with him like he was Kobe Bryant. Even if his politics didn’t match up with someone else’s, he could look past that and bro down as if they were besties for life. As he said, “We’re all unique trashed individuals.” (One of my favorite SOK tees btw!)

    Well Casey, though our friendship wasn’t as close as it was back in the day b4 you passed, I will always cherish it and appreciate the rad times we had together. You introduced me to so much- friends, girls, hoops, music, Taco Bell tortillas and sauce (lol), the list goes on… and I will forever be grateful to you for that. As I said at our buddy Chaka’s funeral, I’ll say the same to you: I hope you’re out there somewhere surfing perfect barrels & throwing yuuuuuge sprays(you know), eating epic grinds, listening to amazing hip hop, and chilling with most beautiful girl(s)…

    Until we meet again! Love, Seth ⚡ #wheatdogg

  • Patch
    September 24, 2020 - 3:16 am · Reply

    Alot of memories with Casey. Growing up as groms running around an HB that doesn’t exist anymore were some of the best times of my life. From changing at grandmas on Lake St surfing everyday rain or shine, having the keys to Club Mad on Main St and the boxing, heckling, probably a chick of two lol. When Steve let me work at Zacks and hanging out during careless summers . When we went to the US Championships at Sandy Beach in 88 and took the rental car to Ala Moana on our own and Casey was driving and reached back into the back seat and slapped me and Craigie for acting a fool and we were all fighting for like 30 seconds then started cracking up and absolutely scored epic Bowls. Going down to Rusty in La Jolla to get clothes in Grandmas Buick and Casey making us listen to Bobby Browns 1st solo album with my prerogative on it all the way there and back even though me and Russo were begging to play like G & R at the time but Casey was reaaally into Bobby Brown at the time so we really didnt stand a chance haha. All the sessions together. Just alot of good times in and out of the water. Lots of memories but one that really stands out to share is one day on Southside and I hadnt seen him in quite a while. He yelled Paaaatch I yelled Whheeeat we paddled to eachother gave big ol hugs and he told me whats been going on with him, what hes been through, and his plan for SOK and what he had planned and how it was gonna work, and what it was gonna look like etc etc. I didnt catch alot of waves that day because we were talking a bunch and if a wave came Casey was going plus hes probably one of the best paddlers Ive ever seen but I didnt mind at all. I was stoked to see my friend again happy and healthy and on a mission. Everything he told me he wanted to do that session he was doing. I really loved and respected Casey. His energy and stoke were contagious and my god his style!!! One of a kind!! He had a dream and was living it and he will never be forgotten by the many many people who loved him. Love, your friend Patch

  • Lila kaylor
    September 24, 2020 - 6:02 am · Reply

    My adorable Casey. I met you when you were playing basketball at the HB GYM. You were in 4th grade in between Deena and Dana. It was love at 1st sight and continued throughout the years. Always polite, sweet, kind and the best smile ever. Lots of great times at my house in 7th street. I cherish our memories and you are engraved in my heart forever. I love and adore you❤️

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