Captain David Wikowski memorial
Donation protected
My dad, David Paul Wikowski, unexpectedly and tragically died on July 11, 2018. Dad lived in St. Thomas, USVI, where he relocated to live a very minimalistic lifestyle when my parents got divorced about 10 years ago, and where we lived until I was 5. I have since lived in Chester County, PA.
Although he suffered from chronic back pain, my father was an avid sportfisherman and loved the sea more than anything. He participated in countless blue marlin tournaments – the highlight of his year when he had the opportunity to mate, or just spectate, during tournaments. He passionately ventured out to deep waters to catch blue marlin whenever he could “get a ride” on a friend’s boat, and, after retirement from the hospitality industry (good, well-prepared food was another love of his), for charter customers, as a mate, and sometimes as a captain…for as long as his back held out. That all stopped about three years ago when he could no longer stand straight. Living on his social security benefits, my Dad resisted surgery and merely coped with the pain. Most recently, he had to use a cane to walk due to bad knees and back.
For as long as I can remember, at the end of every day, Dad would head to the favorite stop for fishermen in the area. A place which has changed hands and names several times over the years, and is currently called Fish Tales. Fish Tales is on the East End of St. Thomas, at the end of a long dock where many sportsfishermen return their vessels after their long day at sea. Even when he could no longer fish, Dad could be found at Fish Tales around 4pm or so daily. He was there the day his body was found in the marina waters he loved so much. We’re told he left Fish Tales alone that day. It’s assumed he ventured down the dock alone, tripped, hit his head, was knocked unconscious and fell into the marina and drowned. He was found an hour or so later. How could a man who considered no sea too rough to venture into take his last breaths in a marina? I can picture Dad enjoying the irony.
My Dad’s wish was to have most of his ashes spread at sea, and a few tagged to a great blue marlin, which would carry him throughout the world as it migrated.
My father was always the person I would run to for advice, he knew exactly what to say to calm me down. I was told my whole life how much I resembled him in features and personality. We were one in the same. My father was an amazing adventurous man who deserves the memorial he wanted and I will do whatever I can do give him just that.
23, pregnant, and currently struggling with my own personal finances,, I can’t cover the steep cost of cremation in the USVI, let alone make my Dad’s wish a reality on my own. (Cremation is not done on St. Thomas. The body must be transported to St. Croix for cremation, then the ashes sent back to St. Thomas, which makes it even more cost prohibitive than if he were in the U.S.) Recently having finished a two and a half year tour with the Peace Corps in Botswana, my sister is currently volunteering in South Africa, and also does not have resources to help or to travel to a memorial in the USVI.
Will you please help financially, or in-kind? Your ideas on how to keep costs down are welcome, too. Please also forward this link to anyone else you think might be willing to help.
I will circle back and share information for memorial services once we’ve raised enough funds and finalize details, hoping you are able to attend.
Thank you very much in advance.
Love,
Sadie Leigh Wikowski
Although he suffered from chronic back pain, my father was an avid sportfisherman and loved the sea more than anything. He participated in countless blue marlin tournaments – the highlight of his year when he had the opportunity to mate, or just spectate, during tournaments. He passionately ventured out to deep waters to catch blue marlin whenever he could “get a ride” on a friend’s boat, and, after retirement from the hospitality industry (good, well-prepared food was another love of his), for charter customers, as a mate, and sometimes as a captain…for as long as his back held out. That all stopped about three years ago when he could no longer stand straight. Living on his social security benefits, my Dad resisted surgery and merely coped with the pain. Most recently, he had to use a cane to walk due to bad knees and back.
For as long as I can remember, at the end of every day, Dad would head to the favorite stop for fishermen in the area. A place which has changed hands and names several times over the years, and is currently called Fish Tales. Fish Tales is on the East End of St. Thomas, at the end of a long dock where many sportsfishermen return their vessels after their long day at sea. Even when he could no longer fish, Dad could be found at Fish Tales around 4pm or so daily. He was there the day his body was found in the marina waters he loved so much. We’re told he left Fish Tales alone that day. It’s assumed he ventured down the dock alone, tripped, hit his head, was knocked unconscious and fell into the marina and drowned. He was found an hour or so later. How could a man who considered no sea too rough to venture into take his last breaths in a marina? I can picture Dad enjoying the irony.
My Dad’s wish was to have most of his ashes spread at sea, and a few tagged to a great blue marlin, which would carry him throughout the world as it migrated.
My father was always the person I would run to for advice, he knew exactly what to say to calm me down. I was told my whole life how much I resembled him in features and personality. We were one in the same. My father was an amazing adventurous man who deserves the memorial he wanted and I will do whatever I can do give him just that.
23, pregnant, and currently struggling with my own personal finances,, I can’t cover the steep cost of cremation in the USVI, let alone make my Dad’s wish a reality on my own. (Cremation is not done on St. Thomas. The body must be transported to St. Croix for cremation, then the ashes sent back to St. Thomas, which makes it even more cost prohibitive than if he were in the U.S.) Recently having finished a two and a half year tour with the Peace Corps in Botswana, my sister is currently volunteering in South Africa, and also does not have resources to help or to travel to a memorial in the USVI.
Will you please help financially, or in-kind? Your ideas on how to keep costs down are welcome, too. Please also forward this link to anyone else you think might be willing to help.
I will circle back and share information for memorial services once we’ve raised enough funds and finalize details, hoping you are able to attend.
Thank you very much in advance.
Love,
Sadie Leigh Wikowski
Organizer and beneficiary
Sadie Wikowski
Organizer
Phoenixville, PA
Lisa Novy-Wikowski
Beneficiary