Claudia Patino Tarlow of Sag Harbor Dies January 10

Claudia Patino Tarlow, of Sag Harbor, died on January 10 after struggling for a decade battling Huntington’s disease. She was diagnosed almost three years ago, but was symptomatic for over 15 years. She was 50 years old at the time of her death.

Claudia Patino Tarlow was born in Buenaventura, Colombia, on July 26, 1974.

Her effervescent spirit was captured in her megawatt smile, which became her personal signature, around town. Anyone who knew Claudia remembers her smile. Throughout her life, she was a woman deeply committed to her family, her friends, and the ocean, where she spent so many hours riding the waves with other surfers from Montauk.

Claudia developed a deep commitment to the sea when she studied marine biology in Fort Lauderdale, Florida at Nova Southeastern University where she also enjoyed scuba diving regularly with her wife, Wendy Tarlow. Her love of the water was apparent in her life through her regular volunteer efforts for numerous ocean-based nonprofit events like A Walk On Water, Montauk’s Rell Sunn Surf Benefit, the Eastern Long Island chapter of the Surfrider Foundation and coordinating her own local beach cleanups to keep the Montauk beaches clean and healthy.

Claudia moved to Sag Harbor with her wife, Wendy, where they welcomed their son, Logan. What was supposed to be the most joyous time in their lives was quickly put to the test when Wendy was diagnosed with Stage 4 Lymphoma. This was a tremendous strain on the family from the time Logan was 3 months old till 2018 when Wendy’s side effects became much more manageable. Claudia was terrified that she was about to become a single parent and often took to the water, which was always her place to soothe her anxieties. She was a true water woman and out of sheer will was still surfing the week before she died.

Even during the most difficult times, Claudia remained connected to her love of water by learning stand-up paddle and surf in the local waters of Montauk. Surfing quickly took hold and became her passionate recreational activity for the rest of her life. She often took her son on trips to Puerto Rico, Barbados and even the Galapagos Islands to share her love of the sea, she was steadfastly dedicated to passing on to him the importance of caring for all of the ocean’s creatures and fighting for their survival.

Claudia has been a member of the Ditch Plains year-round surfing community for many years, and she also became one of the first female members of East Hampton Village Volunteer Ocean Rescue squad. She was an ocean certified lifeguard and dedicated swimmer, applying herself twice weekly at the YMCA’s master swim class, until a few weeks before her death.

In addition, Claudia had incredible talent as a diverse artist. She created original multimedia artworks from driftwood and stones collected at Ditch Plains while she also captured compelling photographs of the ocean, the surf community, her animals, and her deeply loved family. She regularly gave her artworks away as presents or donated them to special causes she believed in.

Claudia is survived by her son, Logan; and her wife of 22 years, Wendy Tarlow as well as her mother Leonisa Patino and her sister Margarita Valencia Patino.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Huntington’s Disease Association to further the research on this disease (hdsa.org/teamtarlow).