By Gwen Mickelson
Sentinel staff writer

Mike Locatelli, a longtime member of the local surf community and a Santa Cruz native, died Wednesday at his Soquel home after a 15-year battle with multiple brain tumors. He was 46.

Calls went around town Tuesday spreading the news that the surfer known as "Loco," former owner of Portola Surf Shop and a longtime employee of O'Neill, was deteriorating.

"I got a call that said he was not in good shape, so I lit my candles for him in the office and at home," said Jane McKenzie, who knew Locatelli for about 30 years. "You get that intensity of compassion for people — that was hitting me all evening. I had him on my mind"

After surgery last year, Locatelli's movement was limited and he needed to use a wheelchair. His house needed retrofits so he could live there with his wife, Nancy, and daughter, Olivia, 11.

To that end, his friends and family organized a cigar and barbecue fundraiser, one of several benefits over the course of Locatelli's illness organized by friends. In a testament to the surfer's popularity, more than 300 people came.

"For all of us, the way we know him, he was just a really friendly, loving individual," said Rosemari Reimers-Rice, who, along with her longtime shaper husband Johnny, guessed she had known Locatelli for two decades.

Locatelli didn't let the disease get in the way of his life, McKenzie said.

"He kept doing life with cancer," she said. "He was just a big, handsome, powerful man with integrity and passion"

Locatelli went into business at 19, opening Portola Surf Shop. After his diagnosis of a brain tumor in 1992, he sold the surf shop and went to work for O'Neill Surf Shop, where he made many friends and associates, according to family members. He remained at O'Neill for the rest of his career in the surf industry.

Locatelli's death was a blow to the O'Neill family, said Pat O'Neill.

"Mike was a great influence on the Santa Cruz and surf communities," O'Neill said in an e-mail. "He had the perfect mix of razor-sharp business savvy and warm, outgoing personality"

Locatelli faced medical adversity with remarkable courage, O'Neill said.

"When most would have given up, Mike kept fighting and lived far beyond the initial predictions of his doctors," wrote O'Neill. "Mike's passing saddens me deeply. The surf industry has lost a wonderful person, and we have lost a wonderful friend"

Locatelli worked at O'Neill from 1992 to 2004.

He had his first operation when he was 31 after suffering a stroke. The day of the stroke, he opened the surf shop, developed a headache, took a nap, but then felt better. Later that day, he shaped boards, played a softball game at DeLaveaga Park, then headed to an in-line hockey game, where he said his skates weren't working right.

While he was explaining how he felt after the game, he suffered the stroke. A brain tumor the size of an orange was cutting off the blood flow to his brain. Surgery to remove the tumor proved successful.

During the past 15 years, until the middle of last year, Locatelli stayed active, running the retail O'Neill stores, surfing and participating in the Ride-A-Wave program, which introduces surfing to kids and adults with disabilities.

He reluctantly handed over some of his Ride-A-Wave responsibilities last summer.

A talented athlete, Locatelli was an accomplished softball player, family members said. He also enjoyed fly-fishing and once ran a marathon.

Many local pro surfers got their start with mentorship from Locatelli, said longtime friend Chip Goldeen. Locatelli was known to surf all over town, but Midtown and the Pleasure Point area were probably where he surfed the most.

The news of Locatelli's death was bittersweet for Goldeen.

"I've known for a long, long time," he said. "We're very sad, but he doesn't have to suffer anymore"

For Goldeen and others, Locatelli will live in their memories.

"I can still hear his big laughter," Goldeen said.

Contact Gwen Mickelson at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Mike Locatelli

BORN: Sept. 16, 1960.

DIED: Feb. 21, 2007.

HOME: Soquel.

OCCUPATION: Owner, Portola Surf Shop; employee, O'Neill Surf Shop.

EDUCATION: Graduated Harbor High, 1978.

COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT: Participated in Ride-A-Wave organization.

SURVIVORS: Wife of 12 years, Nancy Locatelli of Soquel; daughter Olivia Locatelli of Soquel; parents Pete and Dorothy Locatelli of Watsonville; brother and sister-in-law, Peter and Janice Locatelli, and sister Michelle Locatelli, all of Las Vegas; and many nieces, nephews and cousins.

SERVICES: Friends may call 5-8 p.m. Friday at Benito & Azzaro Pacific Gardens Chapel, 1050 Cayuga St., Santa Cruz. A Mass of Christian burial will be 11 a.m. Saturday at Resurrection Catholic Community, 4300 Soquel Drive, Aptos. Private burial will follow at Holy Cross Cemetery.

CONTRIBUTIONS: Hospice Caring Project of Santa Cruz County, 940 Disc Drive, Scotts Valley, CA 95066; Ride-A-Wave Foundation, P.O. Box 7606, Santa Cruz, CA 95061, www.rideawave.org