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Last 15 Articles

12-1-2005 - Mourning The Dead

16.36 GMT

It's a tragedy that's still hard to grasp. One son IM'd me this morning to tell me more of what happened to his good friends and how he'd tried to get to La Conchita to help his friend Gator, known in the enormous media coverage as Jimmy Wallet, find his family. My son was turned back 300 yards from the site. Gator had returned in the morning to continue searching and was stopped by the Highway Patrol and handcuffed until it was established he was allowed back in. His wife and 3 children are still missing.

OHNO.ABCNews just issued a report that 4 more bodies were found. This is too sad, just too damn sad. They were found shortly before dawn this morning. So where's that God, huh, huh??? Charlie Womack's gone, Tony Alvis is gone and now Gator's wife Michelle,and 3 little daughters, Hannah Jade, Raven Violet, and Paloma Jolie. These were much loved people. La Conchita was more than a small beach town. It was like a big extended family, in fact Charlie Womack had 10 people living in his house, including two who cooked for everyone who were survivors of the 1995 mudslide.

Tony Alvis, like Womack was not only a surfer, but led horseback and donkey tours through the Sespe. I was reading some reports about 3 of the victims -- both he and Charlie were profiled and something he said chilled me to the bone. I wasn't going to cite sources or have any links, but I'm making an exception and truthfully I don't remember where I found this. There's so much coverage and too much conflicts. Dates, numbers, the usual stuff the media get wrong:

"It's like a gamble, but I didn't have to go to Las Vegas," Tony Alvis joked after he had purchased his La Conchita home.

"Even if a slide wipes us out in 10 years, I'll have enjoyed it."

Another source said he bought one across the street from the one he had in 1995 which was destroyed. I don't know if that's true or not.

Charlie Womack, though described as a carpenter or construction worker, was also a surfer of note and one of The Campbell Brothers original Bonzer team and a shaper of boards. I used to watch him surf when we lived on the same beach. Ohman this is hard. My heart is breaking for Jimmy "Gator" Wallet. I can't write anymore. I must, however, provide information on where people can donate. Amazing, isn't it how fast a community pulls together for their own. Trust accounts for both Womack and Wallet have been set up, and another Paypal site has been set up for Charlie.

Santa Barbara Bank and Trust, Ventura branch for the Wallet Trust and the Carpinteria branch for the Womack Trust. Addresses and maps can be found here. SBBT has an online site and it may be possible to make bank transfers for those not in the area or country. Phone: 1-888-400-SBBT for information.

A link was provided by one of Charlie's friends to Illuminatrix, the words "Remember Charlie" and a picture of him and then another link to Clan Destino which has 2 more pictures and a link to the PayPal account. These were very popular, free-spirited people and the outpouring from those who knew and loved them is overwhelming.

Under the link for PayPal is another, Remember, which leads to a photo collection of Charlie by Jeff Clark Photo and a note that includes Gator and his family. It reads:

This is just a small tribute to Charlie Womack and all who lost their lives in the La Conchita slide (especially Gator and his family). Please send me your images and text to help build a larger base of remembrance of the huge role Charlie played in the Llama family and your life.

The Los Padres Outfitters have dedicated the site to Tony Alvis, put up a photo album and are asking all who visit to sign the guest book before leaving as a tribute.

I don't know how to end this, what else to say except that it's pretty certain La Conchita is history. I've read many times today that it won't be rebuilt, nor will anyone be allowed to live there again. Paradise? Like hell it is/was. I am so sad as are the many, many friends and families of all the victims. This isn't one of those things that will fade from memory. Each time someone heads north to Santa Barbara they will pass the site they'll remember just like they did 10 years ago when it all came tumbling down, destroying houses and disrupting lives. No one was killed then. If this is hard to follow, realize it's hard to write.

I found the source I mentioned. Bummer it's subscription, but it was the LA Times who provided the profiles. Click here.

I made one last check at The Ventura County Star and it made me cry as it described Gator's loss and also things about Charly (spelling differs in many places). I don't know what else to say. This is too much too handle right now.

Within his lifestyle and means, La Conchita was what he could do. He definitely was someone who lived every day like he could die tomorrow.
--Steve Samojeden, close friend of Charlie Womack

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