ESCONDIDO, Calif. — Last week we told you about the unexpected passing of Judy Fridono, the owner of the famous surf dog Ricochet. In this Zevely Zone, Judy's friends and family members told me how Judy was living in pain and slipped away exactly how she hoped she would.
We visited Judy's house to meet with her family members and closest friends to honor her spirit of giving.
"She's been in pain for a very, very long time," said her best friend, Jennifer Volz. On October 20th, Jennifer checked in Judy at her home. "I knew in my heart something was wrong," said Jennifer.
Instead of barking, Judy's dog Cori was silent and faithfully lying next to her in bed. Judy had died in her sleep.
"Cori was sitting right next to Judy and she would not leave her side," said Jennifer.
Judy was best known for Ricochet, the beloved Golden Retriever who found her calling as a therapy dog when she learned to surf.
Ricochet died on March 31st. The 15-year-old canine helped countless veterans and kids during more than a decade providing therapy in the waves off San Diego.
Judy's famous surf dog brought joy to thousands of people. But when Ricochet died last spring, friends say Judy was never the same. I asked her friends how they want Judy to be remembered.
"Somebody who gave selflessly to help others," said Max Moore who told us Judy lived her entire life with rheumatoid arthritis. "If you knew her you could see the pain but it's almost like she just pushed right through it and it was all in the services of others," said Max.
Ricochet was trained to be a service animal, but the energetic pup was fonder of chasing birds than assisting with household chores. The canine's mission became clear in 2009, when she got on a surfboard with quadriplegic surfer Patrick Ivison.
A viral video of their ride got more than 6 million views.
"That day she hopped on the board with Patrick, she was reborn," Fridono said in a 2012 interview. "She kept running back to the water with her tail wagging like she could finally tell me, 'This is what I want to do.'"
Judy taught Ricochet how to surf at eight weeks old.
"She had this power to read dogs," said Carol Davis with the non-profit organization Paws'tive Teams. Carol says Judy had a gift for training dogs.
Ricochet was a certified goal-directed therapy dog that helped wounded warriors and veterans with PTSD since 2009. She was also an honorary member of Team USA due to her broad support of the adaptive surfing community.
She became the first-ever canine-assisted surf therapy and adaptive surfing dog in 2009 when she jumped on the board of a 14-year-old boy with a spinal cord injury. In addition, Ricochet helped raise $1 million for charity and the donation of more than 1 million bowls of food for homeless animals.
Following Ricochet's passing, Judy was heartbroken. "My whole life for 15 years was centered around her purpose and now she is gone so I feel meaningless I feel invisible," said Judy last spring.
"Judy was probably the most giving person I have ever met in my entire life, and I mean it when I say she was an angel here on earth," said Jennifer.
Judy's other therapy dog Cori, doesn't surf, but has a special empathy for people in pain, which in this case turned out to be Judy herself.
"We had always talked about how we hoped the universe would be good to her and she said I just want to fall asleep and not wake up," said Jennifer. Which is just what Judy did with Cori at her side.
"She was so peaceful, and finally, she has been in so much pain for so many years and she is pain free and watching over us," said Jennifer.
During our interview, Cori was barking and licking Jennifer. "Cori is like yeah, I love her. We are talking about your mom. Yes, you are a good girl," said Jennifer.
Judy Fridono was sixty-five years old. Her friends and family have a GoFundMe page to help pay for her funeral and upcoming public celebration. For more information click here.