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Andrew Morton Obituary
Sunday January 19th, 2:00 pm at the San Diego Mission Bay Boat Club:
2606 N. Mission Bay Drive, San Diego, CA 92109
Mass will be held Monday, January 20th, 9:30 am at All Hallows Church:
6602 La Jolla Scenic Drive, La Jolla CA, 92037
Andy was born in Tunbridge Wells, England but spent most of his childhood in Michigan. Surrounded by his five siblings and countless friends, Andy's childhood and teen years were a string of crazy escapades. Fortunately his mother Mary routinely cooked massive holiday dinners for the entire Bloomfield Hills police and fire departments, and ramifications were usually avoided.
Andy approached his adulthood much the same as he did his childhood - have an adventure, make a new friend, be kind. While he was primarily self-employed through a variety of successful businesses, Andy definitely embraced a "work to live", not a "live to work" mentality.
In 1987 he met his wife Lauren and what followed was 37 years of, "I have an idea," followed by, quit your job and let's go skiing for a season, let's move to the Columbia River and windsurf for a couple years, let's buy a truck and drive to Panama. Along the way Andy met countless new people, never letting issues of wealth, status or lack of a shared language interfere with a new friendship.
One of Andy's greatest gifts was his ability to shine a bright light of love and interest on whoever was in front of him. He used this gift on a trip to a Romanian orphanage, where he made every child feel like the center of his universe. When he realized he'd accidentally "kidnapped" a few of the children, taking them on an outing when they were not allowed out, had never been out of the orphanage, those of you who knew Andy will not be surprised that he did not return them right away. Possible negative consequences and other people's irritation seldom interfered with an opportunity for him to share some joy.
While volumes could be written about Andy's grand adventures, such as a San Diego to New York bicycle trip to raise money for The Leukemia Society, everyday with Andy was its own adventure.Once he went out to buy equipment and returned home with the seller, his wife, four children, a rottweiler and a cat. When the family eventually moved on, their teenage daughter stayed another year and they all remained lifelong friends.While his door was always open to strangers, Andy was equally open to others' hospitality.
In 2007 Andy became a father to Jesse and Lisa. He loved watching Jesse play Little League and visiting "Lisa's Hair Salon" for mini braids or a blow out.Fatherhood inspired more ideas,such as before throwing out an old TV or appliance you and your children should push it off the roof first to see what happens.
While the last few years of his life were difficult, he never lost his loving spirit. Andy is survived by his wife Lauren, their children Jesse and Lisa, and siblings Robert, Sally, Richard and Jonathan. His younger sister Jane passed away in July of 2022.
In lieu of flowers, give a hug to a big, angry biker, or find a lonely stranger and listen attentively to their entire life story.
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Alan Peak
January 19, 2025
My sincerest condolences to the Morton family and their many friends over the loss of Andrew. He was a very caring person and is sorely missed by those who knew him.
Andrew was the first Morton that I met in La Jolla in about 1977. He was attempting to skateboard down Paseo Laredo. He stopped and asked where I lived and how old I was. I said 15, and Andrew offered to introduce me to his younger brother and sister, meaning Jon and Jane Morton. I soon got to know the whole family and a lot of their friends.
One day at the Rough Water Swim in La Jolla, I met Andrew in the water at the bottom as he took a leap Deadman's Cliff (a feat many locals wouldn't try). Andrew would throw his surfboard off the end of Scripps pier and jump after it because it was better than paddling out. I remember following Andrew's exploits in the newspaper as he and Serge rode their bikes from Mission Beach, CA to Rockaway Beach, NY for charity. Andrew was a very social person and was well known in his younger days at both Zanzibar and Havasupai parties among others. Andrew married Lauren in a beautiful ceremony at La Jolla Cove and became a loving father. Andrew was the only person to call me "Big Al" and I miss him dearly.
Ben Tausch
January 18, 2025
Andrew Morton was one of the most naturally gifted athletes I´ve ever met. When we lived in Vail, Andrew would always be the first one to try a new trick. He was a great skier and was always a lot of fun. He was the first one to jump off the roof into the pool, to jump his motorcycle and the TerraCat. There are too many escapades to write down, and unfortunately, I can´t attend the celebration of life, but I´m sure there will be no shortage of wild and outrageous stories.
The other side of Andrew as that, although he would selfdom back down from a fight, he was very kind and giving. He would give you the shirt off his back to help you. He is the epitome of a free spirit and a wonderful person. I will miss him greatly.
Ben Tausch
Ben Tausch
January 17, 2025
Dan Woodard
January 14, 2025
I remember first meeting Andrew nearly 30 years ago when Rich was sharing the little OB place with him. Andrew was always stopping by and then leaving for days at a time. Rich would joke that he would must be a spy. It would good getting to watch the football playoffs with him last year and watch him go to town on the guacamole I made. He was definitely a fan. Glad the family has many good memories to help get through these hard times.
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Jerry GiIlies
January 14, 2025
Jerry G
Mon, Jan 13, 2:18PM (1 day ago)
to me
First I would like to offer my condolences to Lauren, Jessie, Lisa, the Morton family and Andy's close friends. If you truly knew Andy you loved Andy.
Meeting, My first memory of Andy was when he was INVITED to attend lasher high school. It was mid-year. When I saw Andy and his crew walk through the lunch room doors. I thought oh no here comes trouble! In reality that couldn't have been farther from the truth! It took a little while for us to warm up to each other. Over the next Few years we became very good Friend. For the next 54 years!
Memories, There are a million. Some I can't talk about here. Other people have talked about the house on Woodward and all the pool parties. Riding bikes jumping off the roof into the pool etc. I can't quite remember all the specifics It's been a long time. Either I was chasing Andy or he was chasing me after doing something probably really stupid. As we were running through the house and running through the living room wet in cut off jeans and a BEER in her hands. Late afternoon On a friday or saturday one summer . Mary Andy's mother stopped us. Instead of being upset. she said oh boys oh boys come here we would like you to meet our friends. This is Mr. Iococa , This is Mr Shelby. And this is Mr & Mrs Ford. Andy and I casually walked over and shook each one of there hands saying nice to meet you. Then turned and started chasing each other back down the stairs to the swimming pool. ONLY AT THE MORTON'S! Those those really were good days my friend!
I love you my brother! Rest in peace my friend! You will surely be missed by everyone you touched.
Jerry Gillies
Bill Fauntleroy
January 13, 2025
Pretty much all of us have had fun and crazy adventures with Andy. If you haven´t already seen the movie, big fish, you ought to. It´s as close to a life rendering of Andy´s and ours as ever existed.
Linda Kardoff
January 12, 2025
When my daughter Lauren was in college, she rescued an abused dog and she and Andy brought the dog out to us. Bailey became frightened and started to cry and howl, so they decided to drive him across the country during the January storms. When they arrived in Illinois, their car was dented from hail and the dog ran out onto the lake and fell through the ice. Then he came back, shook, and did it again! The incident showed me what a good match Andy was for Lauren. Not practical, but always kind, compassionate, and ready for an adventure or a change in plans. We love you and miss you, Andy.
Steven Cupp
January 11, 2025
We met at mammoth mountain ski patrol and became friends. Andy was a great skier and a fun guy who was larger than life. He was a big guy with a big voice and an even bigger heart. I always had fun around him and will miss him. He was a pretty special guy.
Lauren West
January 9, 2025
The first time I met Andy he was at the Coaster Saloon with Tom Shaw. They were planning to leave in a few weeks to go skiing for the winter, so I figured we might have a bit of fun and that would be it. It was definitely fun. In those few weeks he took me for my first time big wave, open ocean swimming, skydiving, and to meet the whole Morton clan. (This would have been less intimidating if I had realized almost everybody who met Andy met the whole Morton clan since they spent most of their free time together.)
When Andy did eventually leave for Colorado, he invited me to go as far as Las Vegas. When we got to the airline counter in Vegas he asked me to make the rest of the drive to Colorado. After a few crazy weeks together in Colorado, he was on the train with me back to San Diego, and when he eventually left six weeks later it was pretty clear we would have a future together.
I was so amazingly blessed to have him as my spouse. He gave me a life filled with family, friends, laughter and adventure. I could not have asked for a more kind, loving and loyal partner.
William Reilly
January 8, 2025
My first memory of Andy, was the introduction to the Morton family and it wasn´t for the faint of heart. I could probably tell stories but just like Andy they are all bigger than life, a juxtaposition between kindness and craziness. Andy would help anyone with out hesitation. Many a simple encounter turning into life long friendships. I will never forget when I had been living in Utah for some time and received a call from my girlfriend´s brother, he said there was some guy named Andy who is riding his bike across the country and he says he knows you, sure enough it was Andy Morton raising money for charity. Of course he wasn´t like some fine tuned athlete riding his bike, he was wearing cutoffs and drinking beer and having fun.
Richard Morton
January 7, 2025
The first memory of my big brother was that he was big. Really big. Really really BIG!
My big brother was brave. He went to school all alone. He explored the woods even at night when they were very dark and made scary noises that made me stay away.
My big brother played baseball first and man those guys threw hard. My big brother rode bikes, real cool sting rays with no training wheels! Then he rode a mini bike and terra cats with big black bouncy wheels.
My big brother built tree forts with ladders and stairs so high up near the sky. My big brother built under ground forts with tunnels and candles just like Ho Chi Min.
My big brother was loyal. He always let us little ones play softball games and ghost in the graveyard or an odd hide and seek game called around the neighborhood. It had no boundaries and often no one would be found. I sometimes wonder if my big brother was bad at around the neighborhood or maybe, just maybe, he wasn´t looking?
My big brother was an explorer. Leading us to find mulberry bushes like candy on a tree. He took us to the creek and the pond and the lakes a bIt beyond. He taught us that "do not enter" sometimes meant come right in! Beyond those signs he showed us Cranbrook. A thousand acres of magic with scary statues, long wooded trails and three hidden lakes: Big Johna, Little Johna and Baby Johna where we swam night and day. Big brother didn´t know it but his adventures became our adventures learning of music, love and laughter as the years passed away.
Finally, my brother was big hearted with kindness everyday. Those with least, he gave the most and never walked away. My big brother didn´t believe in strangers just friends about to be. He was big, brave loyal and kind so he hasn´t passed away. His giant heart alive in us beating 100,000 times a day!
Sally Morton
January 5, 2025
Oh ya and what about Alpine Valley. Need I say more and I am betting the memories are flooding back with ear to ears smiles for anyone who had the pleasure of time with Andrew at Alpine Valley. They sure did for me and wow did we have a blast. I also vividly remember how Andrew would stop to help a fellow skier as he did with anyone who needed help along the path of his incredible life journey. So many fond memories, so much to be amazed by, and a heart full of love for my brother Andrew.
Tom Shaw
January 5, 2025
Oh, my... I remember Andrew well! First off my heart goes out to all of Andrew´s family and friends. I am so very sorry for your loss. Robert Morton and I were friends (cub scouts, perhaps?) in the 60s and we spent a LOT of time together, but at some point, we fell out of touch. I also remember spending a lot of time at the Morton house, where one of my most vivid memories was experiencing "meat pie" (kidney) for the first - and only - time in my life. It sounds like Andrew´s was a life well-lived. Bravo, Sir! And Robert, should you see this and feel inclined to do so, I would love it if you got in touch. - Tom Shaw ([email protected])
Sally Morton
January 4, 2025
Sally Morton
January 4, 2025
Skiing was a Morton family sport with so many crazy fun times together. Andrew was always the instigator with never a dull moment. Our first family ski trip was to Mont Tremblant Canada. 50 years later, we managed to get all the siblings together at the top of Mammoth Mountain California to take the same picture and to celebrate Andrew´s 60th birthday. Andrew was such a gifted skier and well let´s face it he was great at any sport he tried. I remember being on a ski lift and turning to watch this awesome skier expertly navigating the run, hitting a jump, doing a flip and a perfect landing. Skiers on the run had stopped to watch and big cheers ensued from everyone who saw. Yep you guessed, the skier was Andrew. I was so excited and proud to yell so everyone could hear "that´s my brother Andrew". This was just one moment in a life time of fun crazy exciting proud times with my amazing brother Andrew. He will forever be in my heart along with a lifetime of these memories.
William Fauntleroy
January 4, 2025
Well, well, well, where to start?!! Andy calling my mom, pretending to be Sargent Joe Kerr of Bloomfield Hills Police, saying I was arrested for possession of pot (I did the same to his mom!), or taking the freighter up the St Lawrence seaway, jumping ship, and hitch hiking across eastern Canada (and the nuns story in Parry sound), or the regular "happy hour drive on a Friday up I-75 for an hour each way before partying, the stories go on and on. Suffice it to say, as all of us know, that Andy led a very rich life of fun and adventure, and made our lives better for it. RIP Andrew, we all miss your free spirit and smile! Bill Faunts
Kendra McConnell Hurd
January 4, 2025
I will never forget Andrew jumping off the roof of the house in Bloomfield Hills into the pool when we were kids! I will always remember other times too numerous to list! Rest in Peace, and hug your Mom, Janie, and your Dad for me. Look for Joe Kerr in Heaven (and find my Dad so he can be your defense lawyer), LOL
Lisa morton
January 1, 2025
Happy new years dad i miss and love you so much ,
Lisa Morton
December 26, 2024
merry Christmas dad , we missed you today down here , i wish you was here
Lisa Morton
December 24, 2024
I miss you dad , so much this hasn´t been easy at all for me i think about you daily I´m extremely great full too have you as my father and I´ll cherish all the memories we had together for ever, from me doing your hair , to riding my bike in the canyon, i know if you was here right now you would be telling me don´t cry Lisa I´ll get you a chocolate bar , just know I´m eating some chocolate while writing .
My dad is my hero and the strongest man I know , To say he was a good man would be an understatement. He was an extraordinary man who acted like an ordinary one. He was an amazing Friend, Brother, Husband, Dad, He loved so fully and is loved by so many. There are no words to express his influence on my life or his influence on those around him.
There is not enough time in the day for me to express the great man my dad was but if you´re here then you knew him and if you knew him you know that he was an extraordinary man who acted like an ordinary one
I love you Dad, forever and always your daughter Lisa
Silas Thorpe
December 24, 2024
When I was about 4 or 5, Uncle Andy let me ride his dog Lincoln down the old wooden stairs of the upstairs addition of their house like a horse. No hesitation on a yes, why wouldn't it be a great idea?
Radel Swank
December 24, 2024
Another Corona Open memory: when Andy dragged Lauren and I by the top of our jeans so our pockets would fill up with sand...ha ha!
Radel
December 23, 2024
One of my best memories with Andy is at the Corona Open. For some reason we were driving in my car down the free road (I think after a Greg Reddick breakfast) and a car on the side of the road had flipped over on its roof. Andy yelled, "Stop! We have to help!" I was nervous about stopping but he insisted. We saw that 3 other cars had pulled over and said they were fine so we got back in the car. Then he said, "Let´s keep going."
I said "What?"
"All the way to Baja," he said.
"Let´s go back to the party," said Type A Me.
He was a true free spirit, one the world will truly miss.
Lisa Morton
December 23, 2024
I miss you dad , so much this hasn´t been easy at all for me i think about you daily I´m extremely great full too have you as my father and I´ll cherish all the memories we had together for ever, from me doing your hair , to riding my bike in the canyon, i know if you was here right now you would be telling me don´t cry Lisa I´ll get you a chocolate bar , just know I´m eating some chocolate while writing this .
My dad is my hero and the strongest man I know , To say he was a good man would be an understatement. He was an extraordinary man who acted like an ordinary one. He was an amazing Friend, Brother, Husband, Dad, He loved so fully and is loved by so many. There are no words to express his influence on my life or his influence on those around him.
There is not enough time in the day for me to express the great man my dad was but if you´re here then you knew him and if you knew him you know that he was an extraordinary man who acted like an ordinary one
I love you Dad, forever and always your daughter Lisa
Jesse Morton
December 23, 2024
I love you dad forever
You thought me much more than I could ever express ! I will strive to be the very best everyday ! Every moment I had with you as a child into my adult years I will cherish ! your love is forever ! Thank you for Mom for every sacrifice and cherishable moment,thank you for having such a beautiful loving family most of all thank you for love and lessons I will carry on !
Thad Bookmyer
December 23, 2024
Rip Andrew I was over the top to see you again for the first time in over 30 years and you were the same funny inquisitive share the whole day with you person I remember when he came and visited Brad in the gorge we were able to golf hike and do what we pleased and his most talked about subject was raising his kids and making life better.
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