Deathwish Boss Erik Ellington Mourns the Passing of His Beloved Father

Ellington posted that it had already been a month since his father passed away. He also shared that just ten days before a leukemia diagnosis, his father was still active and working, continuing the routine he had kept for most of his life. That detail stood out in the way Ellington reflected on how steady his father had always been, even in his final days.

The 48 year old opened up about their relationship, saying things were not always easy when he was growing up. He described his father as strict while he was more stubborn as a young person. Over time, he came to understand that many of the lessons his father passed on were not always spoken directly. Things like discipline, creativity, and a strong work ethic were built over years of observation and experience.

Ellington also spoke about how much influence his father had on his adult life. He shared that looking back, his father shaped much of how he approaches work and life in general. Even when they did not see eye to eye earlier on, those lessons eventually became a foundation for him later.

He also shared memories of his father growing up in Los Angeles during the nineteen sixties. At that time, Johnson Quarles was involved in customizing cars and paid close attention to every detail. That creative drive carried into other parts of his life. He later worked with Mattel as a designer, attended pilot school, and learned how to fly.

Eventually he moved to Alaska, where he became a commercial airline captain. After that, he started his own body shop and continued working on building and customizing things, always staying hands on with his craft.

The Deathwish Skateboards boss described how his father never really slowed down. He kept creating, building, and improving things throughout his life. That steady drive was something he clearly admired, especially when looking back on everything his father had done across different stages of life.

In closing his message, Ellington thanked his father for everything he passed down to him and said he will carry those lessons forward. He ended with a personal note saying he will miss him deeply and signed off with love for his father, Johnson Quarles, who lived from 1943 to 2026.