Richard Whitfield Putnam

5/4/1946 - 5/22/2014 San Diego-- Richard “Rick” Whitfield Putnam passed away

peacefully with his family by his side on Thursday, May 22, 2014, after a

valiant fight against cancer. He is survived by the love of his life, wife Ellen

Putnam, who was lovingly devoted to him for 46 years, sister Patti Axelsen

(Dennis Axelsen), brother Mark Putnam, daughters Alina Taylor (Peter Taylor) and

Lynn McDaniel, four grandsons, niece Debbie Lawson (Gene Lawson), nephew Aaron

Axelsen, five grandnieces, and one grandnephew.

Rick was born on May 4, 1946, in Oakland, California to Richard and Jane Putnam,

and grew up in Moraga, California. He learned how to surf when he was only nine

years old, during visits to his paternal grandparents, who lived on Chelsea

Street in Bird Rock, La Jolla, California. These visits inspired him to move to

San Diego directly after his wedding on February 17, 1968. Rick, 22, and Ellen,

20, drove from Moraga to Pacific Beach in his 1968 fastback Mustang with “Just

Married” painted on the windows, a surfboard on top, and the few belongings that

could fit in the car – handsome groom and beautiful bride starting out to build

a new life together.

For many years, Rick surfed various spots in Pacific Beach, including Crystal

Pier, Tourmaline, Loring, and Law Streets, building friendships with the

colorful locals, of which he was one. He was given the nickname, Southside Rick,

for surfing the south side of Crystal Pier when most surfers preferred the north

side. He was a skilled, powerful surfer who was able to spot an incoming swell

when it was still far off on the horizon. Rick mastered many impressive surf

maneuvers, and was recognized in the water by his unique, graceful style, custom

8-foot, blue Channin surfboards, and blue Birdwell britches.

After stints working as a tile setter, lifeguard, and respiratory therapist,

where he started up an oxygen delivery service, Rick found his calling when he

started up his car detailing business. As a car aficionado, Rick truly enjoyed

the upkeep of classic, rare, and high-end cars. Rick valued, respected, and

admired his customers, treasuring their conversations, keeping their cars

immaculate and looking like new, and providing continuous service to some of

them for over 35 years.

Among his hobbies, Rick had a deep appreciation for and an encyclopedic

knowledge of music, as evidenced by the 2000+ records in his collection, which

spans all genres of music. He was most relaxed when listening to his records

with Ellen sitting by his side, and the mood light on, often times drinking a

beer.

Rick also had a love of and fearless connection to animals, and visited the San

Diego Zoo many, many times over his lifetime.

Rick was very proud of his grandsons, and took great joy in playing ball with

them, and watching them grow.

A celebration of Rick’s life will be held at the Taylor residence on May 31,

2014, at 3pm. The burial service will be held on June 3, 2014, at 10:30am, at

Glen Abbey Memorial Park, 3838 Bonita Rd, Bonita, CA 91902.

Donations may be made to the Zoological Society of San Diego in lieu of flowers.