Meet the Nieratkos - Goodbye, Andy Kessler

By Alex

On Monday, August 10th, the skateboard community lost another icon, and many of us lost a very good, very kind, solid friend. OG NYC skateboarder Andy Kessler was stung by a wasp and died. I have very little to say about this. I still cannot believe it’s real. When I found out, I was walking out the door with my wife to see the OBGYN for our weekly visit leading up to our baby being born. The extreme emotions of anticipation of life and sadness of death floored me and made me vomit.

My thoughts are scattered. I can’t wrap my head around this tragedy. Guys like Andy aren’t supposed to be taken out this way.

Andy inspired generations of East Coast skaters on and off the skateboard. He showed us to give back to skateboarding, to get parks built, to help the next generation, to do something. I am unbelievable thankful for all the years I had knowing Andy.

In the 15 years I knew him he purposely never said my last name correctly and he never said it the same way twice. He loved to bust balls, with a smile on his face.
That smile is all I can think about right now.
My thoughts and prayers go out to his family and his loved ones.
Andy was only 49 years old.

Life is short. It can be snatched up in an instant. Try and enjoy it as much as Andy did.