Memorial service set for Charles 'Mask' Lewis Jr. on April 14

Charles ‘Mask’ Lewis Jr., founder of the popular multi-million dollar MMA clothing line and television show TapouT, will be honored in a memorial service held at the Crystal Cathedral in Garden Grove, California on April 14.
The service "Simply Believe: A Celebration of Charles ‘Mask’ Lewis Jr." begins at 11am and is open to the public.
Lewis, 45, was killed on the morning of March 11 when his Ferrari collided with a Porsche driven by Jeffrey David Kirby of Costa Mesa. Kirby has been charged with vehicular manslaughter and is facing a possible sentence of more than 19 years if convicted. He's currently being held on $500,000 bail.
TapouT was launched in 1997, with nothing more than a vision and a handful of merchandise -- and enough gas in their van to follow fighters across the state of California to promote and sell TapouT clothing.
Now his empire, along with Dan "Punkass" Caldwell and Timothy "Skyskrape" Katz, includes a reality TV show, a line of bottled water, an impressive stable of mixed-martial-arts fighters and of course its massive clothing line, which went from a few thousand dollars in sales back in the late 90's to over $100 million in 2008.
From Caldwell:
"We first and foremost want to thank everyone –- TapouT fans, Mixed-Marital Arts community and more -– for their kind words and support in the wake of Mask’s death. Whether you’re a fan of MMA or not, Charles’ goal was to inspire people to make a difference in the world and never settle for anything less than their dreams. With TapouT, he reached more people than we could have ever imagined, and his dedication to the sport and brand will live on forever through his fans around the world."
President of TapouT Marc Kreiner said that he's received more than 50,000 e-mails in response to Lewis' death. Fans planning to attend the service are encouraged to arrive early.
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37 comments
Comments
r.i.p mask
even though i read he was street racing, he still didnt deserve to go, as he was still a young man
by Jared on Mar 20, 2009 11:06 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
I read that he was sober heading back from the gym and it was likely that he wasn’t racing. Wrong place at the wrong time. I am from right by there and he was on Jamboree in Newport Beach, the speed limit on that street is around 50 mph (3 lane st), so I can see how that damage is possible without him actually “racing”.
by BNF on Mar 20, 2009 11:16 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
aww poor guy, glad the storys not true
by Jared on Mar 20, 2009 11:18 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Here is what I read:
[Lewis] was on his way home from the gym with his girlfriend Lacey at 1 a.m., the only time he could fit working out into a hectic schedule. Lewis took pride in his deceiving physique, and many questioned if he was really 45 years old, even after officials confirmed it.
That night, Lewis and Lacey had decided to drive by a condominium apartment they had been looking into purchasing over the next few days. It is believed Lewis’ fire-engine red Ferrari occupied the middle lane when Jeffery Kirby and his companion came up along the left side in a white 1977 Porsche. At the scene, black skid marks snake up onto the median’s curb right as the road bends slightly, then drag for 500 or more feet across the three lanes. They indicate Kirby’s car bounced off the road’s island divider before t-boning into Lewis’ vehicle’s backend, sending the Ferrari into a 180-degree spin. The car traveled backwards before the driver’s side wailed directly into a cement light pole, slicing it into two parts.
It was the first time in a few months that Lewis had had the opportunity to enjoy the luxury ride he’d purchased over a year ago. The car had slept at a friend’s showroom until Lewis had been asked to bring it to a photo shoot that day for Dub magazine. High speeds didn’t seem unfathomable under the circumstances, though friends said they couldn’t see Lewis engaging in a dangerous street race for superiority. Lewis didn’t know Kirby, nor was Lewis believed to be drinking at the time. Lewis never touched alcohol, as many will attest.
by BNF on Mar 20, 2009 11:21 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Happy to hear that he wasnt drinking. On a sad note, Donte Stalworth was said to be drubk when he killed that guy driving his bently the other day…. That stuff pisses me off!
by john on Mar 20, 2009 11:40 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I’m glad to hear that too BNF, it proves that all the bashing that went on in a previous thread was completely undeserved and unwarranted. Not only was he not drunk, he may not have even been racing this guy. Did the girlfriend live?? I never followed up on what happened with her.
by O damn he got caught on Mar 20, 2009 11:44 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Goes to show you shouldn’t jump to conclusions and pass judgement. That previous thread really p*issed me off with Kevin and all. Hope he man enough to apoligize to the people he offended.
by CaptainAmerica on Mar 20, 2009 12:49 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
bnf,
Nice of you to post that slanted ass crap from sherdog, where is YOUR source and more importantly, THIER source.
What u posted is straight biased rubbish, no facts just gossip.
Let’s wait till the toxocology reports, and how bout some witness statements made by the subjects of this event.
by salmonbum on Mar 20, 2009 2:55 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
He definatly didnt deserve to got thats for sure. But it seems like the best of us die young. He was obviously usefull in heaven, it was just his time for god to take him. Im not gunna sit here and say that im heart broken or anything like that about this tragic news because i have had alot of close people to me die in the past two years but it is always a shame when someone loses their life at such a young age.
by belfort_fan on Mar 20, 2009 3:08 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
It may have come from there, but I didn’t get it from that lame site. Figures a guy with bum in his name does. This is the most we have at this point and is a lot more credible than you. I also said I live there and know exactly where it happened so I believe it is possibly he didn’s have to be racing for that type of accident to happen. If you were a regular here you would know there was a lot of negativity and accusations on this site and I was trying to hopefully clear some of it up. So take your “slanted” a$$ view, STFU and go back to Lamedog!
by BNF on Mar 20, 2009 3:20 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
45 is young? dude thats an old man’s age
by salmonbum on Mar 20, 2009 3:28 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
captain america, I didn’t say he was racing or drinking. Please go back, cut and paste whatever I said to offend you, I’ll be glad to apologize! My guess is, you won’t find anything I said that is worth calling me out! Other guys said some off the wall stuff, but for some reason I got dragged into it! I simply asked if he’d be buried in character! On a side note, I could care less he died, it’s tragic none the less though!
by kevin on Mar 20, 2009 4:07 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Salmon must be about 16 if he thinks 45 is “an old man’s age.” Randy is still kicking ass at that age. 45 is very young to die.
by naturalshadow on Mar 20, 2009 6:49 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Kevin you seriously don’t know what you said that offended anyone?? Let me help you..
-Kevin
“nothing makes me laugh more than when someone dies and all the tools come out of the shed to show respect. They are some of the corniest and uncomfortable comments of any thread. examples:
"You will be remember Charles"
"cool guy most of had some bad roid rage"
and my favorite:
"Great person, great apparel, RIP Mask, Tapout 4 Life."
did you know him?”
Thats nice, so basically you’re trying to say anyone showing their respects or giving the guys some props is just a moron that you like to laugh at… Thats good.
“RIP. I just ran into the TapouT crew last Thursday at the Orange County airport. Really cool guys. The loss of Mask will be felt by everyone.”
-Kevin
“how?? I’m not affected! I don’t get How ANYONES death will affect everyone. I’m not trying to be a dick, I just don’t get you guys!”
Just hammering home the point that you don’t give a damn here, and that no one should care or show concern because he passed away.. thats nice too.. but completely UNNECESSARY and you could have kept that BS to yourself.
-Kevin
“My wife buys stuff foe the homeless all the time, I bitch about it! Listen, I’ve been compared to Dexter before, but do "care" about things. Just not even an iota as much as you guys do! I sincerely apologize, I’m not going to change, I’ve tried, just not a sentimental guy!”
Nice you’re a dickhead to the homeless so you also have to be a jerk off when someone pass’s away in a tragic accident, we get it.
“See ya in Douche Heaven buddy. I’ll be the guy in the size small Affliction T-shirt telling Steve McQueen he’s a pussy.”
-Kevin
“good post”
Good one, you just can’t stop supporting animosity towards a guy that you don’t know either.. nice..
-Kevin
“be annoying and yell…oh and make t-shirts.
maybe they can hire Tito to be the 3rd tapout guy!!”
Pretty rude imo, I don’t know about anyone else but i’d say you’re a disrespecutful prick, thats just me though..
by O damn he got caught on Mar 20, 2009 10:13 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
MANIA, I understand you don’t want to instigate anything but that last post is deserved, and someone that says those things and doesn’t understand what they did wrong, deserves to be exposed.
Respectfully,
O damn he got caught
by O damn he got caught on Mar 20, 2009 10:18 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Kevin, I am definatley calling you out on instigating/starting some serious bashing on a man that didn’t deserve any negativity from us. You posted under several demeaning and insulting comments that you completely agreed with the statements made; you also took a few cheap shots at the man himself, maybe YOU should go back and read what you posted; because you are wrong, and if you think you didn’t do anything to warrant some hostility from other posters, you are sorely mistaken.
by O damn he got caught on Mar 20, 2009 10:24 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I can not condone those kind of statements. Sorry Kev, but being sensative isnt one of your strongest assets.
Odamn: if someone is going to start an argument, at least it should be about an important issue like the one you brought up today. I dont consider what you did Bashing, you just called Kevin out for one of his classic insensative remarks.
I dont get how people cant show compassion towards other human beings. My heart goes out to all affected by his loss!
by john on Mar 21, 2009 11:16 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
like I also said, I have compassion for the basketball player that played the same day his mom tragically died of cancer, or for the soldiers who everyday give their life for this country in a war we should have never been involved in. “Insensitive towards the homeless,” yeah, I have this thing, it’s called a JOB…go get one and stop asking for my handout! It’s like that cunt with 14 kids (octomom), she is getting all these handouts when in reality, she’s a jobless single mother of 14…what an irresponsible bitch! Her and the doctor who inseminated her should be stoned! If mask died in a tragic car crash, I’m sorry for his family! Lets wait and hear the facts! these examples:
"You will be remember Charles"
"cool guy most of had some bad roid rage"
to me are funny! If you want to put a simple “RIP” or “sorry to hear this,” I’m fine with it, but to try to personalize a message to someone you don’t know, makes no sense!
Yes ODHGC, it’s tragic, but tragedy happens everyday, lets be glad I’ve heard nothing of children left fatherless or multiple other people involved! I’m trying to understand your points, and do to an extent! If I offended you, I apologize, I just see a lot more in life to worry about!
by kevin on Mar 21, 2009 4:19 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
He leaves us with a life lesson. Especially to all the young kids who log on to this site. Not sure if alcohol was involved, but Street racing is just like playing russian roulette. The majority of people on this site are guys. And we all know what kind of cavemen we turn into when somebody cuts us off on the road. Our adrenaline starts rushing and we think we are invincible and chase that car down. Sometime just to pass the other car, or even worse, sometimes to fight. Now how ridiculous does that sound when you say it out loud. Us guys have to keep our ego in check. I doubt any of us will get the opportunity to drive a ferrari. So imagine how fast we would take that car if a porsche cut us off or tried to punk you in a car like that. Just gotta be smarter out there.
by open24hrz on Mar 20, 2009 11:24 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
If BNF’s information is correct than he wasn’t street racing at all, his back end was clipped by a drunk driver..
by O damn he got caught on Mar 20, 2009 11:41 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
That is exactly what I took from the information I read.
by BNF on Mar 20, 2009 11:44 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
That is also what I took from BNF’s post but open24hrz made a great post that kids should listen to regardless of the fact that Mask wasnt racing!
by john on Mar 20, 2009 12:23 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I hope that the information that BNF provided is true, but after seeing pictures of the car itself, it just seems very unlikely that it would go that way. It doesn’t seem possible that one car could hit another car so hard that it would push it into a pole and rip it in half, and yet still be able to drive away like I read the Porsche did.
by naturalshadow on Mar 20, 2009 6:59 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
that’s why you don’t BELIEVE everything you read!!! He was not racing!!!!! Do you research!!!!
by yas on Apr 13, 2009 6:41 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
MMA Icon, I will be there to share my condolences…
by Milk on Mar 20, 2009 11:14 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
a ferrari and a porsche not racing on a straight bit of road? hard to believe. the fact that he wasnt drunk and only make the 2nd last fatal mistake (ie speeding) is all the comfort you should take… if you really need comfort that is.
by josh on Mar 20, 2009 11:24 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
how is that hard to believe in Malabu?? Im sure there are hundreds of ferraris and porsches in Malabu why is it so hard to believe he was NOT racing??
And if you read the previous posts it said the speed limit was 50 mph he did not have to be going faster than that for the ferrari to split in two. SO stop making judgements until the facts come out, which im sure his GF will be able to provide.
by fokman on Mar 20, 2009 11:58 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
True that; I know if its me and the speed limit is 50 i’m probably doing 55-60; and not particularly racing anyone. That coupled with the fact that the friends and family are saying he doesn’t drink, and he’s just coming home from the gym; I’d be more inclined to believe the guy in the porsche was Drunk, trying to showboat or initiate the race, when he clipped the back end of Masks ride.
by O damn he got caught on Mar 20, 2009 12:06 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Josh, you must be very naive and/or sheltered. It’s Malibu, son. Not hard to believe at all.
by Gen on Mar 20, 2009 4:02 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Mask.. A true MMA pioneer.. Legend. Icon.. Now God has a great connect for some Tapout clothing for sure. Mask. You the Man Brotha!!!!
by PhilQNY on Mar 20, 2009 11:35 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Im going to be honest here i never really knew who “Mask” was until now but i don’t think you need to personally know him to wish him a simple R.I.P im sure he will be missed alot by the people who did actually know him his friends, his family with that being said R.I.P Mask.
by Unkown on May 13, 2009 5:56 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

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