People miss George Freeth

The bare concrete pillar where his statue once stood is a daily reminder that the pier landscape is incomplete without him, and worse - that even surfing legends aren’t immune to the street value of scrap metal.

The bronze bust of Freeth, which had been a fixture on the Redondo Beach pier since the late 1970s, was stolen in August. Despite the offer of rewards, police have yet to identify the thieves. It is speculated that the nearly 100-pound bust was stolen for its scrap metal value.

But the statue will be replaced, thanks in part to donations from several residents, cooperation with the Redondo Beach Historical Museum and, now, in the form of a gala fund-raising event to be held Feb. 9.

The “Friends of Freeth” fund-raiser will be held at Starboard Attitude on the Pier at 6 p.m. Monday, Feb. 9. The evening will feature food from pier and boardwalk restaurants, live and silent auctions, and live music by rock band Thin Ice, with proceeds from the event going toward the casting of a new Freeth sculpture.

The new statue will be cast from the original molds created by the late artist Terry O’Donnell, which have been on display at the Redondo Beach Historical Museum.