Friends of Fred Swegles prepare to throw flowers in to the ocean from the San Clemente Pier during a paddle out for Swegles, a longtime south Orange County journalist and San Clemente resident, in San Clemente on Sunday, November 6, 2022. Fred Swegles, 74, died Sunday, Oct. 23, due to complications from a brain tumor. (Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Friends of Fred Swegles sign a guest book during a memorial and paddle out for Swegles, a longtime south Orange County journalist and San Clemente resident, at the San Clemente Pier in San Clemente on Sunday, November 6, 2022. Swegles, 74, died Sunday, Oct. 23, due to complications from a brain tumor. (Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Jim Summers plays some of Fred Swegles’ favorite songs during beachside memorial and paddle out for Swegles, a longtime south Orange County journalist and San Clemente resident, at the San Clemente Pier in San Clemente on Sunday, November 6, 2022. Summers used to play in a band with Swegles called, “Volume 8 No. 44.” Swegles, 74, died Sunday, Oct. 23. (Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Friends of Fred Swegles lineup along the San Clemente Pier to watch a paddle out for Swegles, a longtime south Orange County journalist and San Clemente resident, in San Clemente on Sunday, November 6, 2022. Fred Swegles, 74, died Sunday, Oct. 23, due to complications from a brain tumor. (Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Friends of Fred Swegles watch a paddle out from the shore for Swegles, a longtime south Orange County journalist and San Clemente resident, in San Clemente on Sunday, November 6, 2022. Fred Swegles, 74, died Sunday, Oct. 23, due to complications from a brain tumor. (Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Friends of Fred Swegles splash the water and toss flowers during a memorial and paddle out for Swegles, a longtime south Orange County journalist and San Clemente resident, at the San Clemente Pier in San Clemente on Sunday, November 6, 2022. Swegles, 74, died Sunday, Oct. 23, due to complications from a brain tumor. (Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Friends of Fred Swegles sign a guest book during a memorial and paddle out for Swegles, a longtime south Orange County journalist and San Clemente resident, at the San Clemente Pier in San Clemente on Sunday, November 6, 2022. Swegles, 74, died Sunday, Oct. 23, due to complications from a brain tumor. (Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Friends of Fred Swegles lineup along the San Clemente Pier to watch a paddle out for Swegles, a longtime south Orange County journalist and San Clemente resident, in San Clemente on Sunday, November 6, 2022. Fred Swegles, 74, died Sunday, Oct. 23, due to complications from a brain tumor. (Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Friends of Fred Swegles watch a paddle out from the shore for Swegles, a longtime south Orange County journalist and San Clemente resident, in San Clemente on Sunday, November 6, 2022. Fred Swegles, 74, died Sunday, Oct. 23, due to complications from a brain tumor. (Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Friends of Fred Swegles lineup for a group photo during a memorial and paddle out for Swegles, a longtime south Orange County journalist and San Clemente resident, at the San Clemente Pier in San Clemente on Sunday, November 6, 2022. Swegles, 74, died Sunday, Oct. 23, due to complications from a brain tumor. (Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Friends of Fred Swegles lineup for a group photo during a memorial and paddle out for Swegles, a longtime south Orange County journalist and San Clemente resident, at the San Clemente Pier in San Clemente on Sunday, November 6, 2022. Swegles, 74, died Sunday, Oct. 23, due to complications from a brain tumor. (Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Friends of Fred Swegles splash the water and toss flowers during a memorial and paddle out for Swegles, a longtime south Orange County journalist and San Clemente resident, at the San Clemente Pier in San Clemente on Sunday, November 6, 2022. Swegles, 74, died Sunday, Oct. 23, due to complications from a brain tumor. (Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Many from the San Clemente community gathered Sunday at the city’s pier to remember longtime newsman and surfer Fred Swegles with a memorial on the sand and a traditional paddle out in the ocean.
Standing in a circle on the north side of the pier, people spoke of what a wonderful friend and journalist Swegles had been to so many. Swegles died last month at the age of 74. The San Clemente native spent much of his career writing about the community for the Sun Post, The Orange County Register and the San Clemente Times.
Several people who spoke knew him since elementary school and many adults spoke of hoping in their youth that Swegles would mention them in one of his stories. He is remembered as an advocate of youth surfing and for his community.
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