A fixture in the Sector 9 office building, legendary San Diego skateboarder Victor Earhart was killed this week in a motorcycle accident. “He loved to share his passion,” said Sector 9’s Dennis Telfer. “He was someone who, if you saw him, loved to stop and talk skateboarding with you. No matter how old or young you were.”
Earhart worked in San Diego-based Sector 9’s shipping and manufacturing departments and often skated with people 40 years younger than him. Video and pictures taken by the company made the man, who sported a long, wispy white beard, famous in places like Norway where a cell phone company used his imagery in advertising. Earhart was riding his motorcycle last Friday when a driver reportedly didn’t see him and collided with him after stopping at an intersection.
“People (took) it pretty hard,” Telfer said. “There were a lot of tears (at the office).”
The Sector 9 family was seemingly drawn to Earhart’s passion for riding. “I think people saw that (passion) and used that as inspiration, whether it was skateboarders or skateboarding enthusiasts,” said Jeff Budro, who also works at Sector 9. Earhart was killed instantly in the collision. The skate brand is planning an event to honor him.