Doc Paskowitz
Encyclopedia
Dorian "Doc" Paskowitz is an American
surfer and physician
who gave up practicing medicine for a living and decided to become a professional surfer. In 1972, he founded a surf camp run by his family, where campers could live alongside and surf with members of the Paskowitz family. He and his family have been referred to as the "First Family of Surfing".
in 1921, one of three children born to Russian Jewish emigrants Louis and Rose Paskowitz. His sister is former actress Sonia Darrin
. He graduated from Stanford Medical School
in 1946.
After two failed marriages (including one that resulted in two daughters), he realized that he did not feel happy as a doctor. Paskowitz went to Israel for a year, and found himself happier than he had ever been. He volunteered for the Israeli army in 1956 during the Suez crisis
but was rejected. He then returned to the United States and focused on surfing full time.
None of the Paskowitz children were formally educated during their time on the road. Paskowitz's philosophy about the difference between knowledge and wisdom led him to believe that the formal education systems in all the countries of the world were not useful. He believes that achieving wisdom comes from real experiences in the world, from meeting and learning from everyday people, and that formal education is dangerous to young minds. Paskowitz himself, however, is a Stanford graduate and has taught at community college, including Palomar College
in San Marcos
, California.
A consistent theme of health pervaded Paskowitz's approach to family life. Most mornings the family ate a breakfast of multi-grain gruel (as one of his children described it), and they were all expected to be out improving their surfing abilities on a daily basis. Several of Paskowitz's children reached a competitive level in surfing, winning contests and earning endorsement income.
The Paskowitz family stuck together for more than two decades. The eldest son, David, was 23 years old when he finally left the family to find his own life. Interviews with the Paskowitz children in Surfwise
reveal that most have mixed feelings about their childhood.
. Paskowitz had to persuade the Israeli government to let him deliver the surfboards because after Hamas
took over Gaza in June 2007, Israel has only let in essential "humanitarian" supplies. Paskowitz founded Surfing For Peace together with his own son David Paskowitz, as well as Arthur Rashovan and Kelly Slater
after reading an article in the Los Angeles Times
which highlighted the lack of surfboards in Gaza.
Surfing For Peace worked with OneVoice International, a pro Israeli-Palestinian peace organization to successfully deliver the surfboards and hold a follow-up benefit concert in Tel Aviv in October 2007. The successful 2007 surfboard delivery gained international attention for Surfing For Peace and launched a global community of surfers and supporters who aim to use the shared-surfing experience to bridge cultural and political barriers.
, premiered at the Toronto Film Festival in 2007 and had a brief theatrical run in 2008. In 2008, in episode 30, Paskowitz was the featured interview at worldsurfradio.com, where he spoke about his life, and his objections to the Surfwise documentary. In June 2010 Variety reported that Sean Penn would produce and star in a movie about Paskowitz.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
surfer and physician
Physician
A physician is a health care provider who practices the profession of medicine, which is concerned with promoting, maintaining or restoring human health through the study, diagnosis, and treatment of disease, injury and other physical and mental impairments...
who gave up practicing medicine for a living and decided to become a professional surfer. In 1972, he founded a surf camp run by his family, where campers could live alongside and surf with members of the Paskowitz family. He and his family have been referred to as the "First Family of Surfing".
Early life
Paskowitz was born in Galveston, TexasGalveston, Texas
Galveston is a coastal city located on Galveston Island in the U.S. state of Texas. , the city had a total population of 47,743 within an area of...
in 1921, one of three children born to Russian Jewish emigrants Louis and Rose Paskowitz. His sister is former actress Sonia Darrin
Sonia Darrin
Sonia Darrin is a retired American film actress, best-remembered for her role as Agnes Lowzier in The Big Sleep.Born to Louis and Rose Paskowitz, Jewish emigrants from Russia,...
. He graduated from Stanford Medical School
Stanford University School of Medicine
Stanford University School of Medicine is a leading medical school located at Stanford University Medical Center in Stanford, California. Originally based in San Francisco, California as Cooper Medical College, it is the oldest continuously running medical school in the western United States...
in 1946.
After two failed marriages (including one that resulted in two daughters), he realized that he did not feel happy as a doctor. Paskowitz went to Israel for a year, and found himself happier than he had ever been. He volunteered for the Israeli army in 1956 during the Suez crisis
Suez Crisis
The Suez Crisis, also referred to as the Tripartite Aggression, Suez War was an offensive war fought by France, the United Kingdom, and Israel against Egypt beginning on 29 October 1956. Less than a day after Israel invaded Egypt, Britain and France issued a joint ultimatum to Egypt and Israel,...
but was rejected. He then returned to the United States and focused on surfing full time.
The First Family of Surfing
After marrying his third wife, Juliette, Paskowitz and his new bride began a period of roughly 25 years of a transient bohemian lifestyle on the road. The couple produced nine children, and the entire family lived and traveled together in a succession of used camper vans. Paskowitz's personal philosophy about education and money and healthy lifestyle was imposed on his family.None of the Paskowitz children were formally educated during their time on the road. Paskowitz's philosophy about the difference between knowledge and wisdom led him to believe that the formal education systems in all the countries of the world were not useful. He believes that achieving wisdom comes from real experiences in the world, from meeting and learning from everyday people, and that formal education is dangerous to young minds. Paskowitz himself, however, is a Stanford graduate and has taught at community college, including Palomar College
Palomar College
Palomar College is a community college with one campus and six education sites in San Diego County, California. The main campus is located in San Marcos, while the six education sites are located elsewhere throughout north San Diego County. The largest of these is the education center located in...
in San Marcos
San Marcos, California
San Marcos is a suburb of San Diego in the North County section of San Diego County, California. As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 83,781. Outside the San Diego region, it is best known as the home of California State University, San Marcos...
, California.
A consistent theme of health pervaded Paskowitz's approach to family life. Most mornings the family ate a breakfast of multi-grain gruel (as one of his children described it), and they were all expected to be out improving their surfing abilities on a daily basis. Several of Paskowitz's children reached a competitive level in surfing, winning contests and earning endorsement income.
The Paskowitz family stuck together for more than two decades. The eldest son, David, was 23 years old when he finally left the family to find his own life. Interviews with the Paskowitz children in Surfwise
Surfwise
Surfwise is a 2008 American documentary film about the 11-member Doc Paskowitz family, which was directed by Doug Pray. The film premiered at the Toronto Film Festival on 11 September 2007 and had its U.S. premiere on 9 May 2008...
reveal that most have mixed feelings about their childhood.
Surfing For Peace
In August 2007, Paskowitz launched the Surfing For Peace project to deliver surfboards to the small surfing community in GazaGaza
Gaza , also referred to as Gaza City, is a Palestinian city in the Gaza Strip, with a population of about 450,000, making it the largest city in the Palestinian territories.Inhabited since at least the 15th century BC,...
. Paskowitz had to persuade the Israeli government to let him deliver the surfboards because after Hamas
Hamas
Hamas is the Palestinian Sunni Islamic or Islamist political party that governs the Gaza Strip. Hamas also has a military wing, the Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades...
took over Gaza in June 2007, Israel has only let in essential "humanitarian" supplies. Paskowitz founded Surfing For Peace together with his own son David Paskowitz, as well as Arthur Rashovan and Kelly Slater
Kelly Slater
Robert Kelly Slater is an American professional surfer known for his competitive prowess and style. He has been crowned ASP World Champion a record 11 times, including 5 consecutive titles from 1994–98. He is the youngest and the oldest to win the title...
after reading an article in the Los Angeles Times
Los Angeles Times
The Los Angeles Times is a daily newspaper published in Los Angeles, California, since 1881. It was the second-largest metropolitan newspaper in circulation in the United States in 2008 and the fourth most widely distributed newspaper in the country....
which highlighted the lack of surfboards in Gaza.
Surfing For Peace worked with OneVoice International, a pro Israeli-Palestinian peace organization to successfully deliver the surfboards and hold a follow-up benefit concert in Tel Aviv in October 2007. The successful 2007 surfboard delivery gained international attention for Surfing For Peace and launched a global community of surfers and supporters who aim to use the shared-surfing experience to bridge cultural and political barriers.
Health guru
Paskowitz has been described as a health guru and has a strong interest in health issues. He has advocated natural diets low in fat accompanied by exercise. Paskowitz wrote a book on his philosophy about health and other issues titled "Surfing and Health".Surfwise
A documentary film about Paskowitz's life, SurfwiseSurfwise
Surfwise is a 2008 American documentary film about the 11-member Doc Paskowitz family, which was directed by Doug Pray. The film premiered at the Toronto Film Festival on 11 September 2007 and had its U.S. premiere on 9 May 2008...
, premiered at the Toronto Film Festival in 2007 and had a brief theatrical run in 2008. In 2008, in episode 30, Paskowitz was the featured interview at worldsurfradio.com, where he spoke about his life, and his objections to the Surfwise documentary. In June 2010 Variety reported that Sean Penn would produce and star in a movie about Paskowitz.