The skateboarding community is mourning the loss of one of the sport's most influential and creative figures following the sudden death of Marc Johnson.
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Johnson died on Tuesday at the age of 49.
His passing was confirmed in an emotional statement written by longtime friend and fellow skateboarder Louie Barletta.
At this time, no cause of death has been publicly announced.
Skateboarding Legend Dies as Tributes Flood Social Media
Barletta's heartfelt tribute was shared by Thrasher Magazine on social media, where it quickly amassed hundreds of thousands of interactions from grieving fans and fellow skaters.
"Marc Johnson passed away today," the statement read. "He was one of the most talented and creative people to ever step on or off a skateboard."
"As I write this, the reality still hasn't fully set in."
Barletta revealed that Johnson had visited him in San Jose just a month earlier.
According to Barletta, Johnson appeared "sober, healthy, and full of life."
"He seemed genuinely excited about the future," the statement continued. "He even extended his ticket by a couple of days so he could explore some of the old haunts around San Jose."
"When it came time to drop him off at the airport, he handed me an envelope. I waited until I got home to open it. Inside was a three-page list of his hopes and dreams for the future. Never in a million years did I imagine that less than a month later, he would be gone."
