Barry was hired by NASA to use his surfboard-making skills to create tiles for space shuttles
Barry Walter Dix of Cocoa Beach, Florida, passed away peacefully in his sleep at age 71 on Friday, April 10, 2026. Barry’s Celebration of Life will be held at The Pointe Church, 82 North Atlantic Avenue in Cocoa Beach, at 10 a.m. on Saturday, May 2. (Image courtesy Eastern Surf Magazine)
BREVARD COUNTY, FLORIDA – Barry Walter Dix of Cocoa Beach, Florida, passed away peacefully in his sleep at age 71 on Friday, April 10, 2026.
Barry Dix was born in Babylon, NY, on October 3, 1954, to Donald (Dixie) and Lois Dix. Together with his brother Randy Dix, the whole family enjoyed going to the beaches on Long Island, and the two young boys learned to surf the often freezing waves.
At ages 14 and 16, Barry’s father, who worked for the BellSouth phone company, got a job offer in Cocoa Beach, Florida.
Barry and Randy attended Cocoa Beach High School, and by 1969, they had risen to local fame, becoming top surfers in the area, with Barry winning first place and Randy second place in the junior men’s division at the Port Canaveral Jetties.
After graduating from Cocoa Beach High School in 1972, Barry worked as a contractor at AUTEC Navy Base in the Bahamas.
He acquired his US Merchant Marine Officer license and became the ship captain of the Range Rover, a torpedo recovery vessel.
Called back to Cocoa Beach, he started shaping surfboards for Quiet Flight and captaining smaller vessels at Port Everglades.
Everything fell into place when Barry was hired by NASA to use his surfboard-making skills to create tiles for space shuttles.
In 1997, he married the love of his life, Tracy Ann, and became a father to Tracy’s children: Heather, Graham, and Michael Thompson.
He was a devoted family man who enjoyed the beach and boating. Even when he was no longer physically able to surf due to many hip and back surgeries, he taught many family members and friends to surf.
He continued making boards as a hobby under the title Stix by Dix.
He even had his own brand of hot sauce and t-shirts with the Stix by Dix logo! Barry and Tracy were active members of The Pointe Church.
Barry Dix is reunited in heaven with his wife, brother, and parents who passed before him.
Barry is survived by Heather and George Moraitis, Catherine Moraitis, Alexis and Nick De Angelis, Kim and Graham Thompson, Kaylee Czernowski, Graham Thompson Jr., Finn Thompson, Michael Thompson, Randi, Danny, and Hayden Golembiowski.
Barry’s Celebration of Life will be held at The Pointe Church, 82 North Atlantic Avenue in Cocoa Beach, at 10 a.m. on Saturday, May 2.
Please join us at the beach for a paddle out after the service at 11 a.m. at 9th Street in Cocoa Beach.
