One of the pioneers of the art car movement was lost to us on Sunday (12 April) when Tom Kennedy was drowned at Ocean Beach in San Francisco. The Bay Area artist was 48 and had been body surfing when he was hit by a large wave which carried him out to sea. Although a friend brought him back to shore and attempted CPR, a team of paramedics arrived on the scene and were unable to revive him, taking Tom to a local hospital where he was pronounced dead.

Tom Kennedy was one of the most involved artists in the whole movement, and created works which were for the most part inspired by the sea – as may be expected for an artist living in the Bay Area. Perhaps most famously he created Ripper the Friendly Shark, as well as several bikes which were decorated along similar lines. A far cry from his early career in sales with the Houston Chronicle … But it was in Houston where he was introduced to the idea of Art Cars, at the city’s annual parade.

It was that experience that made Tom decide to create a piece – which turned out to be “Ripper”, and he never looked back from that point on. Tom Kennedy is survived by his wife Haideen, his parents Pat and Bob, and his siblings Margret, Matt and Andy. A pioneer, an activist and a gentle man, Tom Kennedy will be greatly missed by all involved in the art car movement and by many more besides. For details of memorial services see http://laughingsquid.com/goodbye-to-tom-kennedy-art-car-artist-activist-teacher-prankster/ and his own personal site www.tomkennedyart.com.

May he rest in peace.