Hundreds Gather in Cardiff in Memory of Loren Nancarrow

Several hundred people took part Monday in a memorial paddle out and beach gathering to celebrate the life of longtime San Diego television journalist Loren Nancarrow at South Cardiff State Beach.

 Nancarrow, 60, died early Saturday evening, surrounded by his family, following an 11-month battle with brain cancer, according to a family statement. Nancarrow's television career spanned more than 30 years and included stints as a weatherman, anchor and a reporter on KGTV 10News, KFMB CBS8 and, most recently, KSWB Fox 5. The five-time Emmy winner was also known as a passionate conservationist, co-authoring four organic gardening books.

"I understand this is his favorite beach spot,'' a friend, Phil Fischman, told NBC7/39. "I don't know if there's a spot in outdoors San Diego that Loren wasn't in love with.'' Fischman said he was thinking of renaming his vegetable garden the "Nancarrow Memorial Garden.''

Nancarrow was diagnosed with stage three terminal brain cancer in February, and later retired from his anchor position at Fox 5. He called himself a "Brain Cancer Warrior'' and authored a blog about his cancer journey.

 He is survived by his wife, Susie, and children, Graham, 25, Hannah, 24, and Britta, 20. On her father's blog Sunday, Hannah said her father was a human Pinterest board, with expertise in "citrus trees and roses and tomatoes, raising chickens and earthworms and monarch butterflies.'' "He was proud to be San Diego's organic son,'' she wrote.

–City News Service