Ocean swimmer Montgomery Thomas Monfore, "Monte," was found dead Tuesday afternoon, October 24, 2017, on Pinatang Beach in Songsong, Rota, in what appears to be a head injury sustained in the waters off the beach.
Monte Monfore was a golden child, filled with compassion, drive, and passionate belief that he could raise awareness of those suffering around the world, including climate change. Monte was selfless in all that he took to task.
Back in the 1990s, four Americans swam the 3 km between the closest points between Bali (the northernmost point on White Beach) and Java.
After two Americans crossed in 1996 in 2 hours, International Swimming Hall of Fame Honor Swimmer David Yudovin set the record in 1 hour 36 minutes in 1997. But then Monte Monfore made his first attempt at a charity swim for causes in July 1998. The then 37-year-old water polo player and ocean swimmer from Hanford, California, describes how he did it. "A sailor and a surfer advised to make the swim on the half moon as this would be the period of least tidal movement. I decided that the swim should be made before the windy season but at a cool time when I would not experience body overheating. I estimated from Bali to the closest point on Java was 3 km, and the swim would take 45 minutes to 90 minutes.
"But the currents pushed him unexpectedly further and faster than he anticipated.
"The current was stronger than I anticipated, and I ended up 6 km further south than I anticipated," Monfore described. "While I swam the extra distance, I was assisted by the current."
Monfore swam between the two islands in 38 minutes. His rapid crossing set in place another decade of charity swims on a variety of causes.
Monfore is originally from California and was thought to have been living in Bali since 2004 and moved to Rota alone six months ago. He holds the World Record for the quickest swim on the Bali Strait, between the two closest points of Bali and Java.
His most famous swim was the 7K Lombok Fight Hunger Swim in 2007 when Monfore swam from Lombok island in Indonesia to the very small Gili Trawangan island.
Monfore often made intentional choices to swim his races in harsh conditions to symbolize the issues that faced the people for whom he swam. Before that, in 2006, he swam for victims of the Yogya earthquake. For example, in the wake of the earthquake, he began swimming in the dark to symbolize destruction.
Rewritten from information published in the Saipan Tribune (Saipan, Northern Mariana Islands) on October 26, 2017.
Monte Monfore was a golden child, filled with compassion, drive, and passionate belief that he could raise awareness of those suffering around the world, including climate change. Monte was selfless in all that he took to task.
Back in the 1990s, four Americans swam the 3 km between the closest points between Bali (the northernmost point on White Beach) and Java.
After two Americans crossed in 1996 in 2 hours, International Swimming Hall of Fame Honor Swimmer David Yudovin set the record in 1 hour 36 minutes in 1997. But then Monte Monfore made his first attempt at a charity swim for causes in July 1998. The then 37-year-old water polo player and ocean swimmer from Hanford, California, describes how he did it. "A sailor and a surfer advised to make the swim on the half moon as this would be the period of least tidal movement. I decided that the swim should be made before the windy season but at a cool time when I would not experience body overheating. I estimated from Bali to the closest point on Java was 3 km, and the swim would take 45 minutes to 90 minutes.
"But the currents pushed him unexpectedly further and faster than he anticipated.
"The current was stronger than I anticipated, and I ended up 6 km further south than I anticipated," Monfore described. "While I swam the extra distance, I was assisted by the current."
Monfore swam between the two islands in 38 minutes. His rapid crossing set in place another decade of charity swims on a variety of causes.
Monfore is originally from California and was thought to have been living in Bali since 2004 and moved to Rota alone six months ago. He holds the World Record for the quickest swim on the Bali Strait, between the two closest points of Bali and Java.
His most famous swim was the 7K Lombok Fight Hunger Swim in 2007 when Monfore swam from Lombok island in Indonesia to the very small Gili Trawangan island.
Monfore often made intentional choices to swim his races in harsh conditions to symbolize the issues that faced the people for whom he swam. Before that, in 2006, he swam for victims of the Yogya earthquake. For example, in the wake of the earthquake, he began swimming in the dark to symbolize destruction.
Rewritten from information published in the Saipan Tribune (Saipan, Northern Mariana Islands) on October 26, 2017.
Ocean swimmer Montgomery Thomas Monfore, "Monte," was found dead Tuesday afternoon, October 24, 2017, on Pinatang Beach in Songsong, Rota, in what appears to be a head injury sustained in the waters off the beach.
Monte Monfore was a golden child, filled with compassion, drive, and passionate belief that he could raise awareness of those suffering around the world, including climate change. Monte was selfless in all that he took to task.
Back in the 1990s, four Americans swam the 3 km between the closest points between Bali (the northernmost point on White Beach) and Java.
After two Americans crossed in 1996 in 2 hours, International Swimming Hall of Fame Honor Swimmer David Yudovin set the record in 1 hour 36 minutes in 1997. But then Monte Monfore made his first attempt at a charity swim for causes in July 1998. The then 37-year-old water polo player and ocean swimmer from Hanford, California, describes how he did it. "A sailor and a surfer advised to make the swim on the half moon as this would be the period of least tidal movement. I decided that the swim should be made before the windy season but at a cool time when I would not experience body overheating. I estimated from Bali to the closest point on Java was 3 km, and the swim would take 45 minutes to 90 minutes.
"But the currents pushed him unexpectedly further and faster than he anticipated.
"The current was stronger than I anticipated, and I ended up 6 km further south than I anticipated," Monfore described. "While I swam the extra distance, I was assisted by the current."
Monfore swam between the two islands in 38 minutes. His rapid crossing set in place another decade of charity swims on a variety of causes.
Monfore is originally from California and was thought to have been living in Bali since 2004 and moved to Rota alone six months ago. He holds the World Record for the quickest swim on the Bali Strait, between the two closest points of Bali and Java.
His most famous swim was the 7K Lombok Fight Hunger Swim in 2007 when Monfore swam from Lombok island in Indonesia to the very small Gili Trawangan island.
Monfore often made intentional choices to swim his races in harsh conditions to symbolize the issues that faced the people for whom he swam. Before that, in 2006, he swam for victims of the Yogya earthquake. For example, in the wake of the earthquake, he began swimming in the dark to symbolize destruction.
Rewritten from information published in the Saipan Tribune (Saipan, Northern Mariana Islands) on October 26, 2017.
Monte Monfore was a golden child, filled with compassion, drive, and passionate belief that he could raise awareness of those suffering around the world, including climate change. Monte was selfless in all that he took to task.
Back in the 1990s, four Americans swam the 3 km between the closest points between Bali (the northernmost point on White Beach) and Java.
After two Americans crossed in 1996 in 2 hours, International Swimming Hall of Fame Honor Swimmer David Yudovin set the record in 1 hour 36 minutes in 1997. But then Monte Monfore made his first attempt at a charity swim for causes in July 1998. The then 37-year-old water polo player and ocean swimmer from Hanford, California, describes how he did it. "A sailor and a surfer advised to make the swim on the half moon as this would be the period of least tidal movement. I decided that the swim should be made before the windy season but at a cool time when I would not experience body overheating. I estimated from Bali to the closest point on Java was 3 km, and the swim would take 45 minutes to 90 minutes.
"But the currents pushed him unexpectedly further and faster than he anticipated.
"The current was stronger than I anticipated, and I ended up 6 km further south than I anticipated," Monfore described. "While I swam the extra distance, I was assisted by the current."
Monfore swam between the two islands in 38 minutes. His rapid crossing set in place another decade of charity swims on a variety of causes.
Monfore is originally from California and was thought to have been living in Bali since 2004 and moved to Rota alone six months ago. He holds the World Record for the quickest swim on the Bali Strait, between the two closest points of Bali and Java.
His most famous swim was the 7K Lombok Fight Hunger Swim in 2007 when Monfore swam from Lombok island in Indonesia to the very small Gili Trawangan island.
Monfore often made intentional choices to swim his races in harsh conditions to symbolize the issues that faced the people for whom he swam. Before that, in 2006, he swam for victims of the Yogya earthquake. For example, in the wake of the earthquake, he began swimming in the dark to symbolize destruction.
Rewritten from information published in the Saipan Tribune (Saipan, Northern Mariana Islands) on October 26, 2017.
Gravesite Details
Cremated with family holding his ashes.
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