The skateboarding world (and San Francisco) lost one of it’s most prolific personalities last weekend. Fausto Vitello died from a heart attack while on a bike ride with his best friend. May he forever rest in peace and continue to inspire generation after generation with his incredible accomplishments.

In the words of his son: “He was skateboarding’s saving grace. When the industry was in the gutter, he gave it mouth to mouth. When corporate types tried to step, he remained independent.”

Read Tony’s (his son) incredible morning after obit.

Having buried my father way too early, I can feel his loss in an incredibly personal way. I grew up skating myself, and the skate culture of San Francisco was a major pull for me in choosing to move here. I proudly live on one of SF’s finest skating hills, 9th Avenue. Thank you Fausto, thank you Dad.

Links:
Thrasher Mag
Independent Trucks

In lieu of flowers, donations can be sent to:
Boys and Girls Clubs of San Francisco
Development Office
55 Hawthorne St.  #600
San Francisco, CA 94105

Make checks payable to: BGCSF, and indicate Fausto Vitello Memorial on memo line. All donations will benefit the new Hunter’s Point Clubhouse.