TITUSVILLE, Fla. — The body of Scott Kemper, 53, was found Sunday in Mosquito Lagoon by a charter boat captain, according to Brevard deputies.
Kemper's best friend spoke to Spectrum News 13 to share memories of the man he says has gone too soon.
- Body of missing kayaker found in Mosquito Lagoon
- Best friend shares stories of Kemper
- Autopsy to be conducted on cause of death
Glenn Hudson is a well-known musician in Titusville and spent the larger part of his life traveling the world, playing music and on occasion mentoring students. It was no surprise Kemper sought Hudson out to learn how to play guitar and sing.
For the next few months Kemper seemed to be learning quickly and was on the fast track of starting his first band 'Campfire.'
“He was once of my most promising students -- a protégé,” Hudson recalled.
Within a year, Campfire was playing gigs all over the Space Coast almost every weekend. Hudson said he taught Kemper almost every song in his set that he played with two other band members.
“Music was his first passion and kayaking was his second,” Hudson added.
It was his second passion that claimed Kemper’s life.
Kemper was only supposed to be out kayaking for a couple of hours, according to his family. Later that night, they realized he never came back home, and they contacted authorities.
Authorities believe when Kemper's kayak capsized somewhere in the Haulover Canal, he drowned. He went missing Friday afternoon but was found deceased near Mosquito Lagoon.
Kemper is described as a funny man who enjoyed music and helping others. For the past two years, he would drive Hudson to his chemotherapy sessions about an hour away and talk about music to distract him.
“Just only days before he died, we played together. I guess it’s the last song,” he said.
Hudson can’t stop thinking about his mortality and how he’s been battling stage-four cancer for years. When the doctors only gave him a few months left to live, he was able to outlive his best friend who was in good health.
“He was too young to die. This caught us by surprise. I still can’t believe it,” Hudson explained.
An autopsy will be conducted to determine Kemper's cause of death.