I met Gerry Potato Hurtado a few times over the years during the 1970’s and 80’s when I was growing up in Orange County California. He skated and worked at Skatopia Skatepark and The Big O and I believe he was Independent Trucks first team manager. He was always a real positive dude and was super cool to us little skate rats. I took a 13 year hiatus from skateboarding so I missed all the ” Skate Master Tate/ Skate TV era”. After his commercial fame waned during the 90’s I would occasionally run in to Gerry at the local flea market where we both sold antiques and collectibles. We would always share our cool scores we found that day at the Cypress swap meet. That guy had a killer record collection! (check skatemastertate instagram for proof of this) He was a great friend to many famous skateboarders and musicians and was a huge influence on a lot of them. For those who knew him, his passing was/is extremely saddening, but we take comfort in knowing that his lifelong friends and family were right there beside him, to the very end. R.I.P. #SkateMasterTate
P.S. Gerry’s 80 year old mom was taking care of him while he was sick. There is still some fundraising going on for her and the funeral expenses. Please have a look.
rip jerry…and to anyone under 30 you better thank god you didn’t have to wait for sk8 tv on nickolodoshit…so humiliating to have turn on that channel to see skating in the late 80s
4 comments
K.C.
I met Gerry Potato Hurtado a few times over the years during the 1970’s and 80’s when I was growing up in Orange County California. He skated and worked at Skatopia Skatepark and The Big O and I believe he was Independent Trucks first team manager. He was always a real positive dude and was super cool to us little skate rats. I took a 13 year hiatus from skateboarding so I missed all the ” Skate Master Tate/ Skate TV era”. After his commercial fame waned during the 90’s I would occasionally run in to Gerry at the local flea market where we both sold antiques and collectibles. We would always share our cool scores we found that day at the Cypress swap meet. That guy had a killer record collection! (check skatemastertate instagram for proof of this) He was a great friend to many famous skateboarders and musicians and was a huge influence on a lot of them. For those who knew him, his passing was/is extremely saddening, but we take comfort in knowing that his lifelong friends and family were right there beside him, to the very end. R.I.P. #SkateMasterTate
P.S. Gerry’s 80 year old mom was taking care of him while he was sick. There is still some fundraising going on for her and the funeral expenses. Please have a look.
Lard bomb
rip jerry…and to anyone under 30 you better thank god you didn’t have to wait for sk8 tv on nickolodoshit…so humiliating to have turn on that channel to see skating in the late 80s
surfer
age is aging. Next stage is now. living as hard as dying. hey kid…you are me.
spurr
my condolences to his friends and family.