Watersports pioneer Steve Gates

The Port of Hood River is working in collaboration with a local group of volunteers to honor the memory of the Steve Gates, a long-time Hood River community member whose influence on the Hood River waterfront, the wind and water sports industry, and our community will be felt for generations. The group is raising money to fund the construction of a memorial space near Frog Beach. The information provided below is from the project website – https://charitysmith.org/memorial-funds/steve-gates-remembrance-fund/. We encourage you to visit the website to learn more and contribute to the memorial.

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The intent of the Steve Gates Remembrance Fund is to raise money for the design and construction of a public space located at Frog Beach along the Hood River waterfront. The space will bring people together in celebration of water sports and community, two areas where Steve devoted much of his time and energy throughout his life. Steve Gates, founder of Big Winds, was highly involved in the community of Hood River, by way of coaching and mentoring youth and his involvement in city politics (even serving as Mayor of Hood River). The idea for this space was conceived by a diverse group of Steve’s friends meeting for the last several years of Steve’s life as the Friday Lunch Club. Steve said he felt “honored and humbled” when told of their plans before he died. This project is being organized by the Friday Lunch Club members, in partnership with the Port of Hood River. There is broad support from the Port, the Gorge community, and Steve’s family and friends. The proposed space depicts a shaded area overlooking Frog Beach. The design of the space will encompass Steve’s energy, enthusiasm, and commitment to community through the pursuit of water sports activities in the Columbia River Gorge.

Steve was a champion of the Hood River Waterfront Park development, with a desire to make the waterfront family-friendly and accessible to everyone. Steve also spread his love of activity through coaching and recreation. He helped start the Dynamos Soccer Club and coached his daughters and their friends on the Cooper Spur Race Team, and started the JET standup paddleboarding team for youth that continues to this day with great success. In recent years, he became active with the HR Outrigger Canoe Club, where he formed watertight friendships, and also established a love for mountain biking in Post Canyon throughout his cancer treatment.

Steve was passionate about every project he took on, and yet his driving motivation was always the relationships he formed along the way. Steve went out of his way to connect with those around him, never too busy for a smile and chat with friends, customers, colleagues and family alike.

The goal of this project is to enhance Frog Beach and the Hood River Waterfront by providing additional seating and a shaded area for rest, reflection, and appreciation for our community and the people and places that inspire us. Excess funds will be donated to the Steve Gates Memorial Scholarship Fund (https://hrcef.org/steve-gates-memorial-scholarship-established/) established with the Hood River County Educational Foundation.  Donate

Donations

CharitySmith accepts donations in two ways:

By Mail:Steve Gates Remembrance FundCharitySmith Nonprofit Foundation13100 Filly LaneTruckee, CA 96161

Online:Use credit card by clicking here.

The above Memorial Fund is established as a division of Charitysmith Nonprofit Foundation (EIN 87-0636433). All donations are tax deductible in accordance with federal tax law. Receipts for tax purposes are sent via US Mail within two weeks of donation. Please consider asking if your employer participates in a gift-matching program. If so, your donation may be matched by your employer.

For questions regarding your donation or this memorial fund please contact CharitySmith.