Lear, Cecil (1930 – 2022)

Diligent and well-liked surf contest organizer from Belmar, New Jersey; cofounder of the Eastern Surfing Association. Lear was born (1930) in Irvington, New Jersey, the son of an accountant father, raised in nearby Caldwell, and moved to Belmar in 1946. As a high schooler, he bodysurfed, rode a surf mat, and worked summers as a lifeguard. In 1952, Lear received a B.A. in economics from Drew University; not until 10 years later, at age 32, did he began riding a surfboard. His first new board w...