A well known surfer from the Malibu days of the 1960s, Ray earned the nickname "The Enforcer" for the way he steered younger surfers from drugs and trouble and stopped conflict in its tracks. He continued surfing and exploring throughout his life, including California, Hawaii, Tahiti, and Nova Scotia, and formed enduring friendships everywhere he went. “Think of a good life,” he said, “Think of yourself becoming something.” Ray did exactly that.
Susan Brooks remembers her mother telling her, “It’s a big world out there, Susie. You should live and experience it.” And she certainly has. A self-described surfer girl who grew up in the Santa Ynez Valley, she started college at the age of fifteen and went on to a PhD in biochemistry and a career in cancer diagnosis. Now retired, she’s a naturalist and an artist who has never ceased to explore, learn, and appreciate.
An artist, builder, surfer, and friend who has lived for decades at the Hollister Ranch, Kit Cossart offered reflections about what it means to live in this remarkable part of the world. He talked about his early adventures surfing beyond the gate of Bixby Ranch, the paintings and sculptures he creates, and the faith that is his source of strength