Also from Ray Stachelek

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tMMA-bDIMnw&t=32s

Richard Pearce (1932-2020)

Richard Pearce died on April 5, 2020 at Tockwotton on the Waterfront in East Providence from the effects of the post polio syndrome. He was born in New York City on April 14, 1932 to Ethel and Samuel Pearce. He grew up in New York City, where he attended P.S. 6 and the Bronx High School of Science. In 1953 he graduated with Highest Honors in Philosophy from Hobart College. In the summers, wanting to experience the world outside of New York City, he hitchhiked out west to stack hay, work at odd jobs, and drive a combine on the wheat harvest. One summer he worked 26 jobs. After graduating from Hobart, Summa Cum Laude, he studied Philosophy in graduate school at Columbia University. He soon met Jean Kudo, a recent Swarthmore graduate from Urbana, Illinois and fell in love. In 1954, questioning his major in Philosophy, he withdrew from Columbia University. Toward the end of the Korean War in 1954, he was drafted into the U.S. Army. Richard and Jean were married in between basic training and clerk typist school, shortly before he was shipped off to 7th Army headquarters in Stuttgart, Germany. Jean joined him there, and for 18 months they lived off base and enjoyed travelling in Europe on the few passes he received from the Army. After his discharge, he returned to New York City a Korean War veteran. Upon his return to the United States, he changed his focus to English Literature and later received his Master's degree from Columbia University. While writing his Ph.D. dissertation he accepted an appointment to teach in the English Department at Alfred University in Alfred, New York. In 1962 he was awarded his Ph.D from Columbia. He accepted a position in 1964 in the English Department at Wheaton College in Norton, Massachusetts where he taught for 37 years. During his teaching tenure, he mentored many young colleagues. He enjoyed teaching and research, publishing six books on modernist narrative: Stages of the Clown: Perspectives on Modern Fiction from Dostoyevsky to Beckett, 1972; William Styron, 1971; Critical Essays on Thomas Pynchon (Editor), 1981; The Novel in Motion: An Approach to Modern Fiction, 1991; and Molly Blooms: A Polylogue on Penelope and Cultural Studies (Editor, with an essay, "How Does Molly Look through the Male Gaze"), 1994. He will be remembered for his leadership of the English Department, commitment to shared governance through his work on faculty committees and in AAUP, and most especially for the mentorship and friendship he extended to so many junior faculty members. For his colleagues the screen porch in summer and woodstove in winter at the Pearces' house was a source of great food, drink, music, and intellectual sustenance. Richard was a coach, cheerleader, fan, and friend, always open to new ideas and new people. He modeled this for young faculty in his commitment to students, the creativity and excitement that went into his teaching, and his devotion to each new scholarly project. He truly embodied the best of what the Wheaton community valued and nurtured. Following his retirement, he became an avid fly fisherman and developed a new interest in Native American Ledger Art. After travelling west to interview women ledger artists and conduct research, he was inspired to write his latest book, Women and Ledger Art, 2013, the first published study focusing on this topic. While very involved with his college community and research, Richard was a loving husband and father. He and his family went on camping trips exploring different areas of the country, and his sense of adventure and humor always made the trips exciting. His passion for nature and gardening was inherited by both daughters who love working in their gardens. In connection with conferences or research, Richard and Jean enjoyed traveling to other states or countries and would return home with stories of interesting people, beautiful places, and delicious food. In addition to being remembered by his friends and colleagues for the range of his intellect and enthusiasm, Richard will also be remembered for his positive attitude toward life and people, his warmth and quirky sense of humor. Richard died of complications of post polio syndrome, having initially contracted polio as a 9 year old in summer camp. He left his wife Jean, to whom he was married 65 years, daughters Karin Pearce-Small and Emily Pearce-Spence, sons-in-law James Small and Gerard Spence, and grandchildren Dylan and Austin Small and Lucy and Jeremy Spence.

William "Jake Jakespeare" Jacobson passed away on Saturday(11/17/12) from cancer. He was a good friend and will be missed by many for his generosity, humor and love of life.

JACOBSON, William W., Jr. "Jake Jakespeare" Of Walplole, November 17th, age 69. Beloved husband of Christine Wu. Cherished son of the late William W. and Katherine (Swiney) Jacobson of Bayonne, NJ. Devoted father of Maile Jacobson of Walpole. Cherished brother of Merrill of NJ, Paul (PhD.) of Iowa, Clifford (M.D.) of NY, Robert of NJ, Thomas of NJ, Honorable Mary Jacobson of NJ, Julie Jacobson of MD, Richard of NJ, and the late Jon. Also survived by many loving nieces, nephews, in-laws, and friends.

Crossroads Anglers has lost a good one. Russ Keane was an expert fisherman, woodworker, collector and a good friend. Russ died on January 30, 2008 after his battle with cancer.

Russ was born in Dedham on April 17, 1931. He proudly served his country in the United States Army 82nd Airborne during the Korean War. Russ worked for the Foxboro Company Security for over 25 years, retiring in 1985. Besides Crossroads Anglers, he was a member of many clubs including the Standish Sportsmen Club and was active in their fishing derbies for children and their sportsman’s show. Russ resided in Foxboro with his wife Grace.

Many members know of Russ’s fishing accomplishments; 11 stripers over 50 pounds and 2 more over 60, and too many others to list here. He received many fishing awards during the Schaefer contest years. In addition, Russ was a magnificent wood carver and an avid collector. He loved the history of fishing and the old lures and equipment. Russ enjoyed designing and making his own striper lures and bottom fishing rigs and sold them through retailers under his company name “Old Time”.

In addition to his wife Grace, he is survived by his son Christopher, daughter-in-law Ruth and two granddaughters, Emily and Lexie.

On a personal note – Russ, thank you for taking the time to share with me your love of lure making, collecting and fishing. I truly enjoyed our time together pouring lead, building lures, looking at old tackle, and the fish stories. We had fun. You will be missed.

webmaster's note...Check the picture. Is that rod in the rod holder behind Russ in a "fish on" condition?

Richard was born on November 14, 1944 and passed away on Saturday, March 5, 2011. A skilled fisherman, fly tyrer, instructor, researcher, and developer. Dick Empie is the innovator of over 100 fly patterns, mostly for trout, Atlantic salmon, and saltwater fishing. Dick claimed the Deadly Shiner series on which he did rigorous research and development catches everything, anytime, any season, anywhere!

http://www.thesunchronicle.com/news/one-man-s-quest-to-save-a-lowly-fish/article_463d8f6d-5098-5e46-8c16-e9d3683c6017.html

I first met Al, at Corcoran’s in Stoughton, MA in the winter of 1955. I was nine years old. It was a nice time growing up. Life was easy, people fished and hunted. The big places such as Orvis, LL Bean and Ambercrombie & Fitch were around but not nearby.

On a Friday night, I showed the salesman John Moriarity my crude attempt at tying trout flies. John called, Mr. Brewster over and showed him my flies. He gave me his thoughts. Kid, keep on tying and you will get better. For over sixty years he always called me the KID. I have to tell you I was honored and blessed to know Al Brewster.
In 1963, he formed Rhody Fly Rodders with Harold Gibbs. It was this night we were invited to Al’s home in Riverside, RI for the first meeting. Entering the basement I couldn’t believe what I was seeing. He had long row of tables with five fly tying vises. I ask “how come so many vises’. His answer a vise for tying dry flies, another for streamers, wets, bass bugs and saltwater. I learned he was a commercial fly tyer for Orvis, LL Bean, Corcoran’s. He had boxes with jungle cock, bucktails, feathers – you name it he had it. I don’t know how many bamboo rods and a pipe collection. I thought I was in the Disneyland of Fly Tying and fishing.

Al Brewster was a lovable guy. He was personal friends with Art Flick, famous Catskill fly tyer and Rube Cross, who fished with Theodore Gordon, father of American dry fly fishing in the Catskills. He showed me how to tie Flick’s nymphs, his signature Catskill dries, famous Gibbs Striper fly, etc. He was always sharing places to fish such as Sandy Point, Portsmouth, Bristol Narrows, and Palmer River for shad and trout. It goes on.

When the Saltwater Fly Rodders of America was formed in 1965, a group of area fly fishers joined Al and Harold in their trip to New Jersey. Through their efforts we became Chapter Three. Al Brewster was a household name with the greats, such as Lee Wulff, Lefty Kreh, Stu Apte, Mark Sosin, Joan Wulff, Ken Bay, and others.
Al was a humble man. One day I started rumbling about how I met Charles Ritz, Lee Wulff, Ernie Schwiebert, Lee Wulff etc. through United Fly Tyers. He let me go on and on about famous people. He looked at me and said. Kid, never never forget people in your back yard, the people who you tie flies with and fish with. It just might be they are greater than all your idols. It was a lesson I always treasured. He was responsible for the phrase “always give back what you learned.” The tradition is alive and well – it will go on and on.

Al Brewster, you were like a dad to me. You will never be forgotten. It’s not good bye, it’s until we meet again.

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Also from Ray Stachelek

Bernard Lefty Kreh