Family and friends are holding a memorial service on Saturday in Portland, Ore., for an Emeryville man who presumably drowned after the Bay to Breakers race in San Francisco last month.
Beau Rasmussen, 27, who is originally from Oregon, walked the May 19 race that goes from downtown San Francisco to Ocean Beach, but went missing after he was last seen taking a picture in Golden Gate Park around 1:30 p.m. that day.
Later that day, his cellphone, passport and clothing were found near the beach. His family has speculated that he went into the ocean as part of a post-race tradition.
Rasmussen’s stepmother Nicole Apelian said his case is still open with local authorities, but “all evidence points to him having drowned.”
The memorial service will celebrate and remember Rasmussen at 2 p.m. at the Madeleine Parish in Portland. A reception will follow.
Apelian said the family would not have planned the service if they were not certain that Rasmussen is gone.
“If there was any hope, we’d still be searching,” she said.
In the weeks following his disappearance, hundreds searched for Rasmussen with the help of the non-profit KlaasKids Foundation.
As many as 30 people came down from the Pacific Northwest to help try to find their friend, Apelian said.
This weekend, it will be Rasmussen’s Bay Area friends and co-workers making the trip up to Oregon.
Rasmussen worked at the San Ramon solar energy company EDF Renewable Energy for the past two years, and at least five colleagues will be attending his memorial, co-worker Stephanie Serbe said.
Apelian said the company’s Portland office will also be part of the ceremony.
Ten people will speak at the memorial and a friend has put together a slideshow of Rasmussen’s life, Apelian said.
“Beau has great friends who really love him,” Apelian said.
The family is planning for as many as 450 guests to attend the memorial.
“Anyone that can come is coming,” Apelian said.
She noted friends from his alma mater University of Oregon, the fraternity he was part of there, his Portland high school, along with his work network and the local Bay Area and Portland communities have all helped the family.
“Everyone has been really supportive,” she said.
SashaLekach0140p06/28/13
CONTACT: Stephanie Serbe, friend of Beau Rasmussen (510) 999-0852
Nicole Apelian (503) 367-6296
Copyright © 2013 by Bay City News, Inc.—Republication, Rebroadcast or any other Reuse
without the express written consent of Bay City News, Inc. is prohibited.
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