Late Sea Isle Surfer, Humanitarian Honored with Water Well in Africa

By DONALD WITTKOWSKI The East Africa nation of Uganda is a long way from Sea Isle City. But both places are inextricably tied now because of Matt Vecere, a surfer who grew up in Sea Isle and later dedicated his life to humanitarian causes before he was killed in a commercial airline crash last year in Africa. The people in the village of Gamba, Uganda, will be reminded of Vecere every time they draw clean water from a new drinking well dedicated in his memory. Donations made to the California-based Christian organization Wells of Life funded the $6,000 cost to install the well, ensuring that 1,000 villagers in Gamba will have clean drinking water for the next 20 years. Without the well, the villagers and their children would have continued to use other sources of water contaminated with animal waste, explained Marilu Keeney, director of donor relations for Wells of Life. “They would walk a mile for dirty water,” Keeney said of the teenagers who carried 40-pound jars of water on their heads back to the village. “But we drive wells so they will have clean water.” To date, Wells of Life and its donors have funded the construction of 527 new drinking wells in Uganda. Wells of Life also repairs older, deteriorated wells. Keeney said the donors for Vecere’s memorial well would remain anonymous. A memorial plaque will be included with the well. Matt Vecere, an avid surfer who grew up in Sea Isle, is shown in action. (Courtesy Heritage Surf and Sport) Ashley Brigham, director of operations for Wells of Life, said Vecere’s humanitarian efforts reflected the mission of her organization to provide clean and safe drinking water for the people of Uganda. “He was an incredible human being,” Brigham said in an interview Wednesday. Vecere was one of eight Americans on Ethiopian Airlines Flight 302, which crashed March 10, 2019, while flying in Africa from Addis Ababa to Nairobi, killing all 157 people aboard. He was in Africa on a humanitarian mission. The 43-year-old Vecere spent much of his adult life helping others, particularly the struggling people in the impoverished island nation of Haiti. The 2010 earthquake in Haiti proved to be a pivotal moment in his life, solidifying his desire to be part of humanitarian efforts. He raised money to fly to Haiti to join in the earthquake recovery efforts and would return to the island during other humanitarian trips. Vecere grew up as an avid surfer in Sea Isle. The local surfing community joined with his mother, Donna Vecere, for a beachfront memorial service on June 8, 2019. As Donna Vecere stood at the water’s edge, clutching flowers in her hands, she watched as hundreds of surfers headed out into the ocean for an emotional “paddle out” ceremony. It is a ritual in which surfers form a circle in the ocean to honor one of their own who has died. Donna Vecere, Matt's mother, watches as surfers form a circle offshore to honor her late son at his memorial service last year in Sea Isle. Donna Vecere couldn’t be reached for comment Wednesday about the water well dedicated in her son’s memory, but shortly after Matt’s death she released a statement describing his passion for the environment, civil rights and social justice and his commitment to helping those in need, particularly the people of Haiti. “He volunteered countless hours with charitable organizations, at community events, and with numerous relief efforts after natural disasters,” she said in the statement. “Matt had strong connections to Haiti. He served with various organizations and made several trips to the island, beginning after the devastating earthquake of 2010, after hurricanes, and again as recently as two weeks (before his death).” At the time of the plane crash, Vecere was in Africa to attend the United Nations Environment Assembly for the first time, his mother said. While in Africa, Vecere was planning to deliver air-quality monitors made by IQAir, a California-based company where he worked as a writer. “It was Matt’s actions that will serve as his true legacy,” Sea Isle Mayor Leonard Desiderio said during the memorial service last year. “He obviously touched so many people in so many ways, from Sea Isle City to California to Haiti to Africa.” Carrying flowers and their boards, surfers wade into the ocean to begin their "paddle out" ceremony in tribute to Matt Vecere last year.