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Circle of Life

31.05.2009 21:30
Bill Burbidge, the Father of Pattaya SCUBA, was loved and will be missed.

Bill Burbidge, the Father of Pattaya SCUBA, was loved and will be missed.


Pattaya icon Bill Burbridge died Sunday morning, May 3 at home in his sleep. His wife survives him Pat and his daughter Cindy of Pattaya and five daughters in America. Bill was best known as the greatest SCUBA dive instructor in Thailand.



Seafari was the first scuba diving operation to open in Pattaya and one of the first in Thailand. Founded by Bill Burbridge back in 1970 Bill ran an excellent dive operation and trained most of the long-timers.

 

Bill loved Pattaya, home to his family, and was known as the pioneer of the diving industry in Thailand. Bill was one of the first members of the original Pattaya expats club, which meets at Henry J. Beans and would attend meeting regularly and offer thoughtful comments on topics he was interested in.

 

Three term Club Chairman and MC Drew Noyes while Bill was most active at the club of the most interesting men I ever met. Most of my friends that have lived here for a long time who dive learned from Bill. He started the first dive shop and really propelled Pattaya as a water sport destination.”

 

His best friend Paul Back said after his passing, “Bill was a tenacious guy. Not at all concerned with being liked. He was abrupt, direct and always honest. He was dependable and loved his family and his life as a SCUBA instructor. When he lived among the Eskimos in Greenland he built a steel sled which he enjoyed displaying as the natives walked by shaking their heads in confused amazement. That was Bill. What he would want to be remembered for most was as the best dive instructor in Thailand. That was his legacy.”


 

Circle of Life - Circle of Life - Bill Burbridge - SCUBA - Leonardo Strouse - Mike Strouse - Pratthana. Seen

Leonardo Strouse is born to American businessman Mike Strouse and Issan native Pratthana. Seen here are three generations showing a united family.

 

At 1:22 pm on May 19, a handsome baby boy named Leonardo Strouse was born weighing a mere 2.1 Kilos.

 

He enters the world full of opportunity thanks to his successful and loving father Michael Strouse, Managing Director of Final Wave, Co., Ltd. in Pattaya. Leonardo will also have the kindness and compassion of his mother Pratthana Strouse, his grandmother Amnui Ngaokhainam (his mom's mom) and the guidance and support of his grandfather Lynn Strouse (his father's father).

 

The Pattaya Times staff wishes Leonardo and his family all of God's blessings.



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