Andy Kessler, 49, helped spark New York City’s street skate scene and inspired countless youngsters to take up the sport – but his life was cut cruelly short while helping a friend build a deck
A skateboarder who spent decades performing death-defying stunts suffered a bizarre and unexpected death – after being stung by a wasp.
Andy Kessler, 49, helped spark New York City’s street skate scene and pushed the boundaries of the sport – incorporating the use of ramps to let skaters perform more acrobatic tricks. He shot to fame in the 1970s when he became part of the legendary Souls Artists of Zoo York graffiti and skateboarding collective.
However, Andy’s life was cut cruelly short in 2008 as he was helping a friend build a deck at a house in East Hampton Town in August 2009. He fell ill after being stung by a wasp and his friend rushed him to the Montauk Medical Center, which had closed for the evening.
Andy was then driven to a local fire station and crews rushed him to Southampton Hospital, where he was pronounced dead. Moose Huerta, a close friend, said he had suffered a heart attack following an allergic reaction to the wasp sting. An allergic sting can trigger anaphylaxis or heart failure, especially if not treated immediately.
Fellow skateboarder Chris Nieratko wrote at the time: “I still cannot believe it’s real. When I found out, I was walking out the door with my wife … 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 1990s, Andy persuaded New York City’s state department to build a skate park in Riverside Park before going on to design other facilities in Manhattan, Brooklyn and Montauk. In 2005, he fell off his skateboard and dislocated his femur – without the coverage of health insurance.
He was unable to pay his $51,000 (£38,700) bill, but several dozen surfers, skaters and artists helped raise the money by organising a party. After recovering from the injury, Andy got straight back on the board. Friend Tony Farmer said: “Flowing through traffic, timing lights, shooting reds, dodging pedestrians … dude just had the streets so wired. Suffice to say, he was an amazing cat.” Kessler’s influence continues – in 2019, the skatepark in Manhattan where he helped lead the project was renamed in his honour.
