Oak Park climber Michael Reardon remembered for daring feats

LOST- Reardon, shown in this file photo, was washed out to sea. Rock climbers live on life's edge, consumed by a passion steeped in danger. One local climber pursued his deep love for the sport all the way across the Atlantic Ocean and paid with his life.

Oak Park resident and worldrenowned climber Michael Reardon, 42, was presumed dead after being knocked off the side of a cliff in Ireland by a freak wave on July 13. He was climbing on Valentia Island off the southwest Irish coast.

In climbing circles, Reardon was considered one of the world's best free soloists- solitary climbers who shun the use of protective gear.

Damon Corso, a photographer and friend, was shooting photos of Reardon when the fall occurred. According to Corso's description online, Reardon appeared to be conscious in the sea below when Corso left to get help from a nearby Coast Guard station. But when Corso and a rescue team returned 15 minutes later, Reardon had disappeared.

Rescue workers conducted an intensive air and sea search, but were unable to find Reardon. His wife, Marci, and 13-year-old daughter Nicki traveled to Ireland to meet with rescue officials.

ALL OUT JOY- An energetic Michael Reardon reaches the top of a cliff at Malibu Creek State Park. Photos by BILL SPARKES A tribute to Reardon was held at the summit of the cliff from which he fell.

Scott Robertson of Oak Park, who worked out with Reardon at a neighborhood gym, described his friend as "the nicest guy, always willing to talk about what he did."

"He's one of those people that makes an impression on you because he's doing what he wants to do," Robertson said. "He very much enjoyed what he was doing."

Robertson found it strange that water from the ocean would be the cause of the rock climber's death.

"This guy could have fallen off any of those mountains that he climbed," Robertson said.

Free solo hikers do not use ropes, harnesses or other equipment when climbing, relying only on their hands and feet to scale near vertical surfaces hundreds of feet high.

Reardon was known for tackling high peaks in England, Canada and California, including the famed Tahquitz spire in Idyllwild, Calif. He climbed almost every day, whether on the enormous boulders and rock formations of Malibu Creek State Park or thousands of feet up on a mountain face in the High Sierra.

Many of his ascents were tracked by magazines, newspapers and television media.

According to his website, www.freesoloist.com, Reardon was born in Rhode Island and developed his love for the sport while climbing a large boulder in his grandfather's backyard.

Reardon moved to California at the age of 19. He graduated from UCLA and later earned a law degree from Pepperdine University.

Reardon oversaw business affairs for Harvey Entertainment, which produced the films "Casper, the Friendly Ghost" and "Richie Rich." He then formed Black Sky Entertainment, which produced the successful 2002 horror film "Cabin Fever." He also made a series of climbing videos.

Reardon told The Acorn in a 2005 interview that climbing without a rope didn't scare him. He said his confidence wasn't born out of arrogance, but the laser-like focus he'd been able to develop when faced with dangerous situations.

"Climbing is like life," he said. "Your goal is just to make this next move. Don't worry about the top. Don't worry about the bottom. Don't worry about what you did yesterday or what you want to do tomorrow- just do the next move."