SAN DIEGO (CBS 8) - Friends and family held a paddle out memorial Saturday in honor of a Carlsbad father who drowned last week while diving in Mission Bay.
Thirty-eight-year-old Jeffrey Logandro was lobster diving when he ran into trouble with his gear. His wife Michelle, pregnant with their third child, says her husband's morning routine always included a trip to the beach.
“He was out here every single morning, crack of dawn even if the waves were bad, no waves whatsoever, he would still come out with his coffee and watch the waves,” Michelle Logandro said. “This is what he loved to do, and this is where he wanted to be every day.”
Michelle says she's amazed at all the support her family has received, amazed at all the people who showed up Saturday, and amazed at their oldest daughter Evy.
“She just turned four, she would never go all the way out even with him, she'd stay on the shore, play in the water but this time I talked her through it and said we're doing it for papa were gonna give him flowers out there make a circle and I can't believe she did it.” she said.
In the water, they gathered remembering the man they say had a quirky sense of humor, who loved spending time outdoors with his family. Michelle says she could feel Jeff with them.
On shore, loved ones watched holding each other, etching Jeff's name in the sand.
Though his family has a long road ahead, Michelle says something their 4-year-old said Saturday reminded her the pain won't last forever.
“She said um.. the waves are washing everything away that simply said.. the waves are washing everything away, which is really cool,” Michelle said.
The family has set up a memorial fund in his honor. They want to start a college fund for Jeff's kids. If you would like to help out, CLICK HERE >>.