By: Ed Solt
Known affectionately as “Dono” by friends and family, Donovan Lenker unexpectedly passed away July 20. The former South High Spartan (Class of 2003) and lifelong Torrance resident enjoyed surfing the beaches of Torrance and Redondo Beach.
“We all grew up in the water, at the beach, constantly. Dono was one of the first of our friends to start actually surfing — somewhere around 9 or 10 — instead of just standing up on a boogie board in the whitewash like the rest of us,” said friend Garrett English
Lenker’s other lifelong friend, Ian Keach, recalls Lenker’s love for the occasional surf trip down south.
“I remember his dad loading up the suburban with single fins and twin fins from the 70s and 80s,” Keach said. “We were stoked.”
Lenker’s dad’s quiver rubbed off on him. In high school, during a time when thrusters were the norm, Lenker fell in love with a red single fin. He rode his outdated shape in all conditions. English, a star on the Torrance South high school surf team, tried Dono’s stick but couldn’t make it work.
“Every time I tried to turn I would just slide the thing out and go down,” he said. “But Dono had a finesse about him in the water. It was always really intriguing to watch.”
Lenker also killed it on asphalt and the half-pipe.
“Man, he loved to skate. He was an animal,” said Keach. “He was a natural skater.”
Starting back in Richardson Middle School, Lenker played in several bands, off and on with both Keach and English.
“Dono loved music. He wrote his own songs,” said Keach. “He played every instrument so well; he could produce and play everything on his own album, like Prince.”
In the late 2000s, Lenker played drums for many LA based bands and worked as a drum teacher. Many musicians considered him their favorite drummer to play with, including English and Keach.
“You never knew exactly what to expect from him, but you always knew it was going to be good,” English said. “He could get through any song just fine, but sometimes he’d get so fired up and be going nuts behind the kit, arms flailing, body waving, and then boom! — he was on the ground. He’d catapult himself off the drum throne. Then, laughing, he’d get back up and pick up where he left off. That was my favorite characteristic of Dono, in music and in life — his sheer unpredictability.”
When Lenker’s high school friends founded the FYF Fest held every Labor Day Weekend in Downtown LA and the FYF tours, Lenker made himself available to help out.
“I’ll remember him sitting in the driver’s seat of the bus on the FYF tours, entirely confident in his ability to maneuver the beast that few dared to dance with, across the continent,” said English.
Lenker’s infectious smile and laugh, a presence as Keach said could “light up an entire room” is his lasting impression.
“I’ll always remember Dono for exactly what he was — the friend that I met in preschool who never went away because I never wanted him to,” said English.
On Friday, August 19, there will be a 5:30 p.m. paddle out and drum circle at “Burnout” in Torrance Beach. Address 201 Paseo De La Playa, Redondo Beach, CA 90277. A Celebration of Life will be held at Hopkins Wilderness Park, Saturday, August 20, at 1:30 p.m. ER
