Dennis's burial site

[Jay]

I have always wondered about how Dennis's burial was handled. Was his body "buried" in a casket? Or was his body bound together by blankets and tape? My big question is, was the exact location sealed off from the public? I mean, you can't just jump into the water and find him there, right?

[SBGIRL]

http://www.findadeath.com/Deceased/w/Dennis%20Wilson/buried%20at%20sea.JPG

[Aegir]

I mean, you can't just jump into the water and find him there, right?

Well, he's probably drifted away since.

[Shane]

Whoa.  I always thought he was cremated, and his ashes were put in the water at sea.  I didn't realize they just dumped him off.

[Jay]

So they just dumped him there, with nothing to weigh him down? I thought somebody would have placed boulders or something around the body.

[MBE]

I hate to say this but the body probably was destroyed fairly quickly.

[shelter]

“33-53.9° N/118-38.8° W.” is also the title of a song by a band called DeLorean.

[shelter]

I remember reading somewhere that the burial at sea was Shawn's idea and that not everybody was too happy with the thought of basically feeding Dennis to the sharks... Sorry for that unpleasant image...

[Andrew G. Doe]

It would have been a standard burial at sea (except for the fact that then-President Regan granted a dispensation for it to happen - normally civilians can't be buried thusly): that is, in a weighted body bag. And yes, given the natural cycle of sealife, Dennis' body would have been recycled fairly rapidly.

[The Shift]

I have always wondered about how Dennis's burial was handled. Was his body "buried" in a casket? Or was his body bound together by blankets and tape? My big question is, was the exact location sealed off from the public? I mean, you can't just jump into the water and find him there, right?

Gotta ask... what prompts the question?

[Jay]

I have always wondered about how Dennis's burial was handled. Was his body "buried" in a casket? Or was his body bound together by blankets and tape? My big question is, was the exact location sealed off from the public? I mean, you can't just jump into the water and find him there, right?

Gotta ask... what prompts the question?

Just curiosity. It's always been said that Dennis was buried at sea, but none of the Beach Boys books explain exactly what that meant. What do you guys think the odds are of going to the site and actually finding anything left? Sorry for the morbid image. It's hard to talk about this without being frank.

[MBE]

I doubt you could go two weeks later and find anything left.

[Jay]

I always thought that it was kind of cool that Dennis's final resting place was where he loved to be. But now that I know a little more of the story, I'm sickened by it. How could anybody just dump him, like trash? You would think that his own BROTHERS could have stopped it from happening.

[MBE]

Read the Gaines book on this apparently Shawn was the only one who wanted it. I think Karen was pretty upset.

[shelter]

You would think that his own BROTHERS could have stopped it from happening.

I think that because his wife wanted it (they were still married), there probably wasn't a whole lot that anyone else could do.

[Amy B.]

I always thought that it was kind of cool that Dennis's final resting place was where he loved to be. But now that I know a little more of the story, I'm sickened by it. How could anybody just dump him, like trash? You would think that his own BROTHERS could have stopped it from happening.

I'm sorry, but what did you think it meant to be buried at sea?

[Jon Stebbins]

I always thought that it was kind of cool that Dennis's final resting place was where he loved to be. But now that I know a little more of the story, I'm sickened by it. How could anybody just dump him, like trash? You would think that his own BROTHERS could have stopped it from happening.

Sea burial is not dumping like trash...its a time honored tradition and an honor when our Govt. gives you an official burial at sea. The U.S. Coast Guard  sent a multi-boat procession to deposit Dennis' body at a specific coordinate. Shawn knew that Dennis wanted to be buried at sea because that's what he told her that he wanted. And as far as his remains being recycled into the eco-system...what do you think happens when they bury you? You get eaten by bugs and worms. Same thing as the ocean except slower and smellier. And when you are cremated most of the time your ashes get mixed in with remnants of other people's ashes, you might be sharing an earn with a person who insists that Kokomo was the best BB's song ever.  I think the sea burial was a good thing for Dennis.

[the captain]

I don't think there's anything disgusting or disrespectful about it, either. Human beings are a part of this natural world we inhabit. We die and our bodies decompose, rot, go back to the earth--call it whatever you like, but that's what happens. (Slowly if you're embalmed or mummified, but it happens no matter what.) There is a certain beauty in becoming part of the earth again that actually flows through many religions and philosophies. It's gross to us because we don't want to die at all. But we do. I can tell you this: I would prefer that my body be simply left in a remote place (obviously you can't leave a guy out in the street: THAT is gross!) rather than filled with chemicals to make me "look alive" and left out for show and then put into some kind of fancy box and then into some concrete box in the dirt below that. Of course it's illegal in the U.S. to leave someone to return to nature that way, but if I had my way, that's what would happen. Shallow grave in the backyard, fine by me.

[Sheriff John Stone]

But it IS like dumping trash. The body is put into a bag and dumped into the ocean. I don't think anybody has a problem with the special honor given, the multi-boat procession, or even that it was Dennis' wishes. It's the graphic nature of the process. While you can relate it the more traditional ways of "burial", I seriously question that, given the option, many people would choose having the body of a loved one dumped into an ocean. Anyway....

I remember reading somewhere that there was also some discussion about what music would be played at the burial. Some of the ex-wives (Karen Lamm-Wilson especially?) were pushing for POB, specifically "Farewell My Friend", while Shawn was pushing for The Police's "Every Breath You Take", which was apparently Dennis' favorite song around that time.

[the captain]

But there is a "graphic nature" of any process that deals with disposing of a dead body. Isn't it graphic to remove blood, inject chemicals, apply make-up, set out for display, then put into a box and place in the dirt? That's graphic--horrific, even. But we're more used to it. How is a box in the dirt better than a bag in the ocean?

[Sheriff John Stone]

But there is a "graphic nature" of any process that deals with disposing of a dead body. Isn't it graphic to remove blood, inject chemicals, apply make-up, set out for display, then put into a box and place in the dirt? That's graphic--horrific, even. But we're more used to it. How is a box in the dirt better than a bag in the ocean?

Can you believe it, Luther? After 31 years, POB/Bamboo is finally out. TLOS is probably being mastered as we're speaking. Al is re-recording "Cottonfields" or "Crack At Your Love" or whatever. And I have a wedding reception to DJ in about two hours - and we're debating the merits of body bags vs. coffins. Only on a Beach Boys' message board!

How is a box in the dirt better than a bag in the ocean? What would you choose? I can't believe I'm talking about this....It's a more comfortable way for loved ones to say goodbye to a loved one. It's just he way the human race has been doing it for centuries. Does that make it right for everyone? No. I have to end this. If you don't understand why billions of people would prefer a sealed casket being lowered into a burial plot as opposed to a body put into a bag and thrown into the sea of tunes, then there's nothing else I can add....

[the captain]

It's just he way the human race has been doing it for centuries.

Well, the segment of the human race that we're more familiar with. Certainly not all humans. (See: Indian Hindi) But yeah, enough on this topic. And back to the idea of Al adding some new egg shakers and background vocals to "Come Go With Me" so he can finally get a proper mix released in 2016.

[Wirestone]

What about Jan Berry? He donated his organs. Just think of the little bits of Jan that are out walking around, right now. (Edit: This is obviously a joke, and I don't mean to offend. But Jan _was_ an organ donor.)

[Aegir]

Just throwing my two cents in, after you die, your body is no longer "you". Dennis wasn't thrown into the ocean, his body was. Dennis, depending on your beliefs about the afterlife, no longer exists/is in Heaven/got reincarnated/et cetera.

[Mahalo]

And when you are cremated most of the time your ashes get mixed in with remnants of other people's ashes, you might be sharing an earn with a person who insists that Kokomo was the best BB's song ever. 

That was the funniest thing I heard all day...