More than 200 friends and family members gathered in Manhattan Beach on Saturday to honor the life of Eric Dellenbach, who passed away in November at age 52 after a lengthy battle with COVID-19.

The "celebration of life," held on the beach at 4th Street, honored the Manhattan Beach native, who was an active skier and surfer before contracting the disease. Dellenbach had been hospitalized since early January 2021 and received a double lung transplant on April 12, 2021.

Dellenbach lived in Seattle with his wife Erika and twin 8-year-olds, but still has family members in Manhattan Beach and the South Bay. 

The celebration included speakers, music (see video below), food and even dancing. Family had planned a group paddle-out as well, a tradition for honoring a fallen waterman, but high winds and rough ocean conditions limited the numbers of people able to go out in the water.

During Dellenbach's ordeal, his family has received overwhelming support from the Manhattan Beach community through a GoFundMe page that has served not only as a financial resource but also as a hub for reviving old connections and friendships and as a prayer circle for Dellenbach's recovery.

The Jimmy Miller Foundation, which provides healing surf and ocean therapy for veterans and kids, has added health care providers to the list of people it serves, in honor of Dellenbach. Dellenbach's brother Andy is CEO of the organization.