Mitchell was a known entity from NSB to RC's during the 70's 80's and 90's. He was a 5'7" regular footed shredder with bright rust-red long hair. Mitchell was a magnet for adventure and opportunity. Like most Fla surfers he dreamed of California waves. Right out of high school he HAD to go to SoCal to surf. That was the adventure, the opportunity came because of the Mexican Paraquat scare in 1978. NYT Paraquat scare Knowing the struggles that the Cal surfers were having, Mitchell and a buddy sealed pounds of high quality untainted Jamaican red-bud into the spare tire of a 1971 2-door Ford Pinto wagon and hit the road. Using a brick on the gas as cruise control they drove to California. The time, money and adventures lasted months where Mitchell lived large and surfed hard. He returned and hit the books, receiving a PolySci deg from UF. Looking for money to start law school, he took an IRS agent job in SoCal. After 3 weeks of employment, he was laid off by the Reagan Federal Job cuts program NYT Reagan bill Adapting as he always did, Mitchell decided to live in his car and crash on buddies' couches so he could stay in SoCal. Using the UCSD gym for his shower, Mitchell lived small and surfed hard for 6-8 months. He returned to complete UF law school and took the bar exam 3 years later. He had the highest score of all of those tested in Fla that day. Mitchell practiced Law in Orlando. First with a large firm, but that cut into surf time, so he struck out on his own. In March 2001 while working late in his office, OPD responded to a false B&E report. Guns were drawn by OPD upon entry, but they made no call out while coming through the door. Mitchell heard a noise and met the female officer with a gun to her face. Upon realizing this was OPD, Mitchell lowered his weapon and a large overzealous male officer grabbed Mitchell from behind and force him down into a straight back chair severely injuring his lower back. Mitchell's life became an uphill battle after this occurrence. Multiple surgeries and chronic pain severely impacted his ability to surf and to live life to the fullest. He struggled for many years with these issues. In the last year of his life Mitchell returned to his hometown of Cocoa and started to engage more with his family and friends. He was more of his old self than he had been in decades. He was trying hard to return to surfing and, in the last 6 weeks, paddled out 2-3 times. On the 28th he entered the water at the North boardwalk for RC's. We heard that while surfing he signaled another surfer that he was in trouble. He made it back to the beach, collapsed and was not revived. I would like to thank all the people that knew Mitchell and called him a friend. Those friendships helped Mitchell immensely. I would also like to find the people that helped him or witnessed his struggles up to the sand to both thank them and to discover anything of his final moments. Please PM me if you can help. A celebration of life and memorial paddle out will occur in the near future. Details will be posted in this thread. Good waves to all, pray for surf...... RS Edited: 01/31/2022 at 01:57 PM by RocketSurf

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JMA

Mitchell L Wyle December 12, 1958 - January 28, 2022 Local surfer and attorney Mitchell Leland Wyle of Orlando and Cocoa, Florida died suddenly on January 28, 2022 while surfing at his favorite spot, RC's in Satellite Beach, Florida. He was 63 years old. Born on December 12, 1958, in Oakland, California to the late Harold Elwood Wyle and Shirley Wright Wyle, Mitchell was raised in Brevard County from the age of six. He began surfing at the age of 12 and it became his enduring passion. He was an excellent student with a keen and questioning mind who graduated from Cocoa High School in 1977. He continued on to the University of Florida where he earned a Bachelor of Science in Political Science in 1981 and a Juris Doctor (JD) Law degree in 1985. He was a proud member of the University of Florida Surf Team, where he made lifelong friends. Mitchell followed his father in his love of nature. His knowledge of birds was amazing to include identification by call only. Mitchell was a wordsmith and spent time dissecting words to discover their history and meaning. Just about every time you spoke with him, he had a new word to share and discuss. He was super smart, kind and loved guitars and music. Mitchell was a warm person who loved his family and friends. Mitchell and his big brother Milon were inseparable from youth, traveling to California to surf or to the Rockies with a group of friends for weeks of partying and hard-core skiing. Mitchell loved to regale his six nieces and nephews - whom he lovingly called "niblings" - with stories of his youth. He never ran out! He generously contributed to the college funds of his "niblings." Mitchell cherished the cats he owned in his lifetime and the large centennial oak "Orville" in his yard in Orlando, Florida. We were lucky to connect with the caring people that helped Mitchell on that final day. The family would like to express our deepest thanks to each and every person who helped us to know the details of his day. From the surfer who connected us with those involved in his rescue efforts, to those who assisted and rendered love and care in his final moments, we thank you from the bottoms of our hearts. We know that your actions lifted him up and gave him hope. Mitchell is survived by his mother Shirley Wyle Blum of Melbourne; his sister Laura (Chuck) Wyle Ennis of Melbourne; brother Milon (Michelle) Wyle of Cocoa Beach; and sister Alison (Tim) Wyle Osborne of Jupiter. He is also survived by his nieces and nephews, Derrick (Amelia) Wyle, Rachel (Ben) Barnes, Kelly (Andrew) Pelehach, Corey Osborne, Connor Ennis, Haley Osborne and four grand "niblings." A Celebration of Life and Memorial Paddle-Out will be held on Sunday, February 20th at Pelican Beach Park Pavilion, Satellite Beach. Friends and family are welcome to gather at the pavilion at 11 a.m. The ceremony will begin at 12 p.m. with Paddle-Out to follow and we will spend the afternoon in fellowship at the beach. In lieu of flowers, the family is requesting that donations be made to Kindness For Cats (www.kindnessforcats.org) or Brevard Humane Society (brevardhumanesociety.org). If you wish to send the family a message or share a story, please visit Mitchell's memorial page at www.davisseawinds.com.

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JMA

You are a loving brother. I mourn your loss too.

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"One of the reasons why propaganda tries to get you to hate government is because it's the one existing institution in which people can participate to some extent and constrain tyrannical unaccountable power." Noam Chomsky.