Washington judge dies while snorkeling in Hawaii

HONOLULU — A superior court judge from San Juan County died while snorkeling in Hawaii.

Police said 62-year-old John Linde of Friday Harbor was snorkeling with a friend Thursday morning when they became separated on the Big Island’s South Kohala Coast.

A charter snorkeling boat discovered Linde floating about 75 yards off shore. Attempts to revive him failed and he was pronounced dead at North Hawaii Community Hospital.

San Juan County reports on its Web page that Linde is a former District Court judge who became the county’s first superior court judge when he was appointed in January 2008 to the new district. He was elected later last year.

He is survived by his wife of 37 years, Carol Linde, and two adult children.

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Information from: The Honolulu Advertiser, www.honoluluadvertiser.com

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