We Mourn the Passing of a Friend and Fishing Giant! - Page 3 - Striper Talk Striped Bass Fishing, Surfcasting, Boating

Saltheart · 03-17-2008, 10:52 AM

Too bad , he was a friendly guy who helped a lot. biggest striper i ever saw unmounted was the one he had in his freezer for a customer waiting to sent it out to be mounted , maybe 15 years ago. I think it was about 65 pounds.

Finlander · 03-17-2008, 11:09 AM

Don was a great guy....God Bless, will be missed by all.

Dad 818 · 03-17-2008, 01:15 PM

R.I.P. Capt. Don. Thoughts and prayers to your friends and family.

Tagger · 03-17-2008, 05:09 PM

R.I.P. thoughts and prayers sent ..

Vogt · 03-17-2008, 05:43 PM

I will trurly miss Don. He was what I could honestly call a great guy. Always willing to lend a hand to my confused group of guys from CT, and always had the ability to make you smile. I always made a point to stop in and see Don whenever I was in the area. Thoughts and prayers sent to his family and friends....

BMEUPSCOTTY · 03-17-2008, 06:52 PM

I finally got around to this thread. Captain Don obviously meant a great deal to many fellow fishermen, but sadly I never met him. I hope his family finds a little comfort in the fact you all thought so highly of him. R.I.P. Capt. Don

vanstaal · 03-18-2008, 07:03 AM

R.I.P old friend

LeCounts1099 · 03-18-2008, 09:58 AM

RIP Captain Don!

STREETFIGHT · 03-18-2008, 11:02 AM

wow- i dont know what to say- he was a great guy & i will miss him. he booked part of my trip to alaska this comming summer with close freinds of his who own a lodge & he set me up with his old deck boss while im there.... the stories we will tell of him will make the trip for sure.

rest in peace cap

chris L · 03-18-2008, 02:05 PM

thats a real shame . Don was one of the best . Always had a good thing to say and always willing to help . He will be missed .

thanks for the fyi Don M

hardcore from shore · 03-19-2008, 12:01 AM

All of us from MSBA who fished RI for Tri-State or the MDA or any other tourney or if we were just extending the season always enjoyed our visits with Captain Don. He made everyone feel welcome whether we bought or not (but we usually did buy).

He was not afraid to tell you where and when the fish would be biting and he was as right as anyone could be. As someone said above I believe he enjoyed putting others on fish as nmuch as loved catching them himself (if not more).

Condolences to friends and family, he was a wonderful man.

Bill
President MSBA

linesider50 · 03-19-2008, 08:57 AM

I grew up in CT but moved to NJ for work 25 years ago. On a striper fishing trip I met an amazing man. I walked into a tackle shop at Dunns Corner in RI.
I asked the big guy behind the counter what was happening locally. He gave me a normal fishing report . We talked a bit and the subject came up that I was just up from NJ and was looking to tag some stripers. His eyes lit up and he told me to wait till the other customers left. He sat down and proceeded to draw me a map detailing spots rocks and all and jotting down the lures to use each area. This was the start of many years of respect and friendship.
I have not been in great health myself so my trips up have dwindled. I got a chance last year to see Don again and his wife also. We had not seen each other for years but with that same gleam in his eye he shook my hand.
The fishing community will miss Capt. Don. He was one of the great personalities of out sport. I hear his wife and son will open the shop this year. My wife and I will have to drive up and stop to pay our respects.
Anyone who happens to go to his services please send best wishes from Fred and Sara in NJ

179 · 03-19-2008, 06:31 PM

Very sad news indeed. R.I.P Captain Don I am sure you will be looking down on all the South County surf fishermen.

eelskimmer · 03-19-2008, 06:33 PM

Glad to hear Don's shop will be opened by his wife. I will
certainly stop by to offer my sincere condolences for a
man whose life was well lived. I am sure Don is with the
Lord now. There were a few times I was in his shop on a
Sunday AM and he said he had to close, be back in an hour.
The first time I asked if he had a hot spot to fish and his
honest reply was he had to go to church. Not many of us
go to church anymore, never mind admitting to it. But
Don was a straight shooter in everything. He will be
sorely missed.

Got Stripers · 03-21-2008, 11:49 AM

Don was such a nice guy, class act and a true gentlemen; rest in peace.

kayaman · 03-24-2008, 10:45 PM

he always greeted you with a smile and offer of caribou stew cooked on the wood stove when you walked in in the middle of the night during the tri-state tournaments, a real welcome on a cold miserable October night.... I will miss him and offer my condolences to his family.

may the wind always be at his back, and his lines tight.....