Hundreds Attend Tribute For Local Surf Legend Charlie Bunger

GILGO BEACH, NY - Hundreds showed up last weekend to honor the legendary local surfboard builder, surfer and surf shop owner, Charlie Bunger Sr., who died last July.

Bunger was memorialized during the Annual Charlie Bunger Memorial Paddle Out on Saturday, October 6 at Gilgo Beach -- Bunger's favorite place to surf.

The local legend started surfing at the age of 18 after moving to Lindenhurst.

In 1961, Bunger started shaping surfboards for local kids as a hobby at the age of 20 before opening the Bunger Surf Shop in Babylon in 1962.

As the popularity of surfing continued to grow and word got out about Bunger's work, orders for his surfboards began to increase, according to the description on the surf shop's website.

After just six months, demand drove Bunger to move his operation from his basement into the two-car garage in his back yard.

He then hired his first employee, Pat Calabrese, to help with production.

He then moved Bunger Surfboards into a 2,000 square foot building in Lindenhurst and opened his first retail store in nearby Copiague.

Bunger passed away at age 77 due to complications from lymphoma.

On Saturday, surfers paddled out into the waters, forming a circle to pay tribute to Bunger.

Watch a video from the event below:

Photo credit: Bobby Delaney of Babylon