Wash. judge dies while snorkeling in Hawaii
ANAEHOOMALU BAY, Hawaii - A Superior Court judge from Washington state has died while snorkeling along the South Kohala Coast of Hawaii's Big Island.
Police said San Juan County Superior Court Judge John O. Linde of Friday Harbor was vacationing in Hawaii and went snorkeling with a friend Wednesday.
The friend returned to shore, but there was no sign of Linde. A charter snorkeling boat later discovered him floating about 75 yards off shore, the Honolulu Advertiser reported on its web site.
People on the vessel performed CPR until emergency personnel arrived. Linde was taken to a hospital where he was pronounced dead at 11:20 a.m., police said. An autopsy will be done to determine the cause of death.
Friends described Linde, 62, as a "very well-respected judge" and "a dedicated husband, father, and public servant."
Linde was appointed on Jan. 1, 2008, by Gov. Chris Gregoire to become the first full-time judge to exclusively serve San Juan County. Previously, San Juan and Island counties shared judges.
Linde's previous judicial experience included being a San Juan County District Court judge for 21 years, as well as court commissioner and Superior Court judge pro tem.
Before that, he practiced general law, with emphasis on real estate; land use and permitting; estate planning, wills and trusts; guardianship; probate, family law; small business formation; and civil and criminal litigation.
Linde was admitted to the Washington State Bar in 1972 and the Oregon State Bar in 2002.
He was a board member of the Friday Harbor Athletic Association and the San Juan Golf and Country Club. He previously served as a board member of the Inter Island Medical Center, San Juan Community Theatre and San Juan Little League.
Linde received his law degree from Willamette University College of Law in 1972 and a Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration from the University of Washington in 1969.
Linde and his wife, Carol, have been married 37 years. They have two children, Brian and Kristen.
Police said San Juan County Superior Court Judge John O. Linde of Friday Harbor was vacationing in Hawaii and went snorkeling with a friend Wednesday.
The friend returned to shore, but there was no sign of Linde. A charter snorkeling boat later discovered him floating about 75 yards off shore, the Honolulu Advertiser reported on its web site.
People on the vessel performed CPR until emergency personnel arrived. Linde was taken to a hospital where he was pronounced dead at 11:20 a.m., police said. An autopsy will be done to determine the cause of death.
Friends described Linde, 62, as a "very well-respected judge" and "a dedicated husband, father, and public servant."
Linde was appointed on Jan. 1, 2008, by Gov. Chris Gregoire to become the first full-time judge to exclusively serve San Juan County. Previously, San Juan and Island counties shared judges.
Linde's previous judicial experience included being a San Juan County District Court judge for 21 years, as well as court commissioner and Superior Court judge pro tem.
Before that, he practiced general law, with emphasis on real estate; land use and permitting; estate planning, wills and trusts; guardianship; probate, family law; small business formation; and civil and criminal litigation.
Linde was admitted to the Washington State Bar in 1972 and the Oregon State Bar in 2002.
He was a board member of the Friday Harbor Athletic Association and the San Juan Golf and Country Club. He previously served as a board member of the Inter Island Medical Center, San Juan Community Theatre and San Juan Little League.
Linde received his law degree from Willamette University College of Law in 1972 and a Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration from the University of Washington in 1969.
Linde and his wife, Carol, have been married 37 years. They have two children, Brian and Kristen.