The South Bay Said Goodbye, Far Too Soon, to Three Extraordinary Souls

Each of them left an indelible mark on all they encountered—both in our community and beyond. Ford Savela, a Mira Costa High School senior remembered for his compassion and quiet strength, was taken in a tragic hit-and-run this January. His teachers called him a light in their classrooms; his friends remember him as a beacon of kindness. In April, the surf world lost Greg Browning—legendary pro surfer, filmmaker and father—whose brave fight against ALS inspired a global tide of love and admiration. And in May, 18-year-old Braun Levi, a rising tennis star with a magnetic smile and limitless promise, was struck down by a drunk driver just steps from home. The South Bay grieves, but we do so as we always have … together. Whether you joined in a paddle-out into the Pacific to celebrate their lives or chose to honor them in your own way, we carry Ford, Greg and Braun and their loved ones in our hearts and memories.