Known for his athleticism and love of outdoor activities, McKeand, who turned 24 last month, died while saving his friend on July 7.

The group was returning from a music festival when they stopped at Feather River off Highway 70 in Plumas County. The spot appeared peaceful, but apparently a strong current beneath the surface of the water started to pull one of McKeand's friends under.

McKeand jumped in after his friend. He managed to get her to safety, but in the process, McKeand himself reportedly crashed against a rock.

News of his death shocked McKeand's family back in Clovis, Calif. His father, David McKeand, said his son was an excellent swimmer.

"I never saw anyone more coordinated than him," he said.

Shortly after high school, McKeand moved to the Santa Cruz area. He worked his way up from being a vineyard laborer to a manager at a Los Gatos winery, running most of the equipment in the field.

According to Eddy Szyjewicz, owner of DeVine Consultants, where McKeand worked for nearly four years, the man was in love with his job and would even come in on weekends.

"We just about never went two or three days without seeing him," he said.

McKeand also took advantage of his job to work outdoors. He would often be seen with his shirt off while operating a piece of the machinery.

"He would give the shirt off his back to anyone. The problem was he hardly had his shirt on," Szyjewicz said.

When not working, McKeand, who lived in Ben Lomond, would sometimes check out the nightlife in Los Gatos.

"He could be found at any one of the locations along N. Santa Cruz Avenue at the end of the day," Szyjewicz said.

Affectionately referred to as "Monkey Boy" by some of his closest friends because he loved to climb trees, McKeand was also known for riding motorcycles and all-terrain vehicles. Those who knew him agree that his passion in life was the outdoors.

"He was full of adventure and life," said his mother, Linda McKeand. "There wasn't any better than this guy."