NAPLES, Florida (23 June 2007) -- Lance Meyer was adventurous, easy-going and athletic. He was an outdoors man who enjoyed fishing, scuba diving and snorkeling. That's how he was described by his friends and loved ones, a day after the 41-year-old Marco Island resident died Friday in a tragic snorkeling accident off the shore of Naples. Meyer was a ray of sunshine when he walked into the room, said Sherry Kreye, a friend of 15 years. "The nicest guy I have ever met in my life," friend Fred Wintzel added. Meyer, of 911 Dolphin Court, was found dead Friday night off the coast of Naples, about two hours after a group of three people that was out fishing decided to go for a swim, the Collier County Sheriff's Office reports. Meyer, who is survived by his live-in girlfriend of eight years, Alicia Cushman, also leaves behind his sister's son, Jimmy Meyer, 13. He recently adopted the boy after his sister's death. "He was dearly loved ... I'll miss him," Cushman, 32, who was too distraught to talk much today, said in a phone conversation. Meyer was a home improvement contractor, including a cabinet builder, carpenter and painter. He was a native of Chicago and had lived in Alaska for about three years, according to his friends. The cause of death for Meyer will be determined by the Collier County Medical Examiner's office, which continues to investigate the incident, said Kristi Lester, a spokeswoman for the Sheriff's Office. "He was athletic ... that is why everybody is saying something went wrong," Kreye said. Capt. Jeff Dawson, owner of Scubaventures in Marco Island, knew Meyer since he opened his store nine years ago. He said Meyer was "refreshingly laid-back," always with a smile. When Dawson learned about his death, he was surprised since Meyer was in good health, he said in a phone conversation, adding that Meyer wasn't the kind of man who would be irresponsible before going into the water. "He was respectful of the water," Dawson said. Meyer may have experienced a shallow-water blackout, also known as apnea diving, or got caught on something, Dawson said. | | Lance Meyer died snorkeling off Naples Florida. A day since Meyer's death has been filled with countless tears and sadness for relatives and friends. More than 20 of Meyer's friends, including Marco residents Wintzel, 44, Jim Downey, 45, Jeff Kreye, 50, and his wife, Sherry, 45, were mourning the loss of their friend Saturday afternoon at Dolphin Tiki Bar and Restaurant on Marco bay, a location that Meyer frequented often on the weekends. "He was our crocodile Marco-dandy," Wintzel said. His friends said that if anyone needed anything, Meyer would do it. "Lance knew how to live life and he taught me how to live life," Marco Island resident James Peters, 53, said sobbing. SCUBA FORUMDISCUSS THIS TOPIC - Dive in and have your say at Scuba Forum |
