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View Full Version : A very sad day.


Jennie@ifish
03-05-2002, 05:49 AM
Milton Fischer, the first man who rowed me down the North Fork of the Nehalem, and noted fly fisherman, and teacher, died yesterday, March 4th, 2002. He was also a noted author of fly fishing articles, and was working on a book.
I am just sick at this tragic loss.
What do you say at a time like this?
I feel like throwing up.
Jennie is crying today.
J

http://www.ifish.net/jenmiltsh.jpg http://www.ifish.net/fishmilt.gif

I just don't know what to say.
He was shuttling home, after fishing, and then dinner. The guys that were following him saw a bunch of skid marks, and his truck had flipped and landed on him or something. I'm not sure of the details, and not sure I want to know. Bill Monroe just called and gave me that info.
Jim Erickson called in the wee hours this morning and told Bill not to tell me until the kids were off to school.
This guy loved to fish SO much. He lived right on the North Fork.
When I was going through my divorce, my Mother died, and then my Grandmother, my Grandmother left me a thousand dollars. I had NO money at the time for a house, or food or anything, because I hadn't been working, and then my husband left.
I took that thousand dollars, and did I buy food? Did I rent a home? No.
I walked into GI JOE's and bought my very first pair of neoprenes. Then I went home, looked in STS for a North Fork Guide. I called him up, and booked a trip. We had SO much fun, and got on really well.
We didn't catch, so he invited me again, free of charge.
I walked into his house that morning, in the early morning light. He had a candle going at the table, thick coffee smell in the air. He tied flies there, in the dim light, before we left.
I fell in love!
I had a major crush on this guy!
He even KISSED ME! I was extremely smitten.
Turned out, we turned into great friends.
I'll miss him so much.
I am so glad that he came to our house last month, and we were able to sit at the kitchen table, candles going, and talk. The storm raged outside, and we talked about everything.
I miss him so much. He was young. He made wonderful contributions to our fisheries.
and... He made one hell of a venison stew.
Milton graduated in 1987 from Reed College, in Biology.

What about his dogs? He has two beautiful black hunting labs. Mother and pup....
What about? How do we help? What do we do?

[ 03-05-2002, 07:29 AM: Message edited by: Jennie@ifish ]

birdsnest
03-05-2002, 05:53 AM
I'm sorry to hear of you loss. Enjoy your memories of him.

Grant Scheele
03-05-2002, 05:57 AM
That's a tough one. Sorry Jennie. :depressed:

lightline
03-05-2002, 06:29 AM
Im very sorry Jennie.

Jennie@ifish
03-05-2002, 06:38 AM
Just for one last hug!
Dang, I could start a river here.
:depressed:

Pete
03-05-2002, 06:41 AM
Milton was on the short list of people I wanted to meet. As a fellow Reed College alumnus and fly devotee, I had great expectations for a friendship. I feel robbed for losing the opportunity to know him and guilty that I didn't pursue meeting him.

TundraIII
03-05-2002, 06:42 AM
Jennie, sounds like Milton was a real great person. Wish I had known him. Why are
people like this taken from us so early in life? God bless Milton and his family.

Captain and Marie
03-05-2002, 07:40 AM
Jen,

I'm so sorry to hear of this tradegy. I feel sad even tho I never met him. The Good Lord has a good job for him in Heaven. May your healing be swift. Light a candle!

sister,
Marie

Cool Texan
03-05-2002, 08:19 AM
VERY sorry to hear this. I have dealt with the pain of loss like that 2 times in the past 6 years. First my father lost a fight with cancer, then my step-fathers (of 21 years) sudden death last year. I know the pain you are feeling. No words will comfort you. Only tears, memories, and more tears for a while.

Light a candle, tie some flies...then catch a fish with them. Then, wade back to the bank, and cry your eyes out. Repeat often.

As for the dogs... my wife and I have been considering adopting a dog for quite a while now, but only one. These two sound like they should stay together if they are mother and puppy.

Again, sorry to hear the news. :depressed:

FISH4MORE
03-05-2002, 08:34 AM
Sorry to hear of your loss. We pray for Milton's
family. When he went thru those pearly gate a fisherman was waiting for him with an out stretch rod. God bless!!

Jennie@ifish
03-05-2002, 09:08 AM
Just heard that the dogs will be well taken care of.
:smile:
Jen

PeterMac
03-05-2002, 09:21 AM
Jennie,
This is a shock. I knew Milt, and my Dad new MIlt very well, he fished with him on a regular basis. I just called and told him, and he is stunned. Very shocking, I am numb.

PeterMac

AngleThis
03-05-2002, 09:27 AM
So sorry to hear about your loss of this fine fisherman, Jennie. Isn't it odd? We get onto rivers in float tubes, we put small boats on the ocean, we bank angle rivers that may flood at any moment, and we survive it all. But then in the wink of an eye, our time comes, and there is nothing we can do for even just one more day. I lost my fiancee 7 years ago in a similar manner at the ripe old age of 30. Helplessness to change the past is the worst feeling in the world.

DC

garyk
03-05-2002, 10:17 AM
What a sad shock.

I'd heard of Milton's reputation as soon as he began guiding and both expected and looked forward to meeting him. Our paths didn't cross, as far as I can tell, and now they never will.

If there's a lessson in this it might be to take every opporunity to say 'hello' and cherish each day.

THE KIWANDA KID
03-05-2002, 06:52 PM
So sorry Jen, but I'm sure that heaven welcomed your friend with open arms and open ears to all the great stories and wisdom he carried from this world. There is a candle burning here for him and our prayers go to his family and to yours.

Jennie@ifish
03-05-2002, 07:04 PM
I have gotten letters from so many who knew him.
He was well loved and admired.
Every time I saw him in a store, I'd blush, dangit!
He was SO handsome!
Bill Monroe reminded me, though, that if Milton saw us all sad, he would just give us a smile and a hug, and say, "Come on over, and fish in my back yard for a while!, Get over it!"
Bill is right.

I think I will, too.

With that thought in mind, I'm going to bed.
Tomorrow will be a little better, right?
Jen

Jennie@ifish
03-06-2002, 07:02 AM
Nice story in today's Oregonian about Milton.
:smile:

Pescador
03-06-2002, 10:39 AM
It was with shock that I read of Milton's death. I was introduced to steelhead fishing just six weeks ago by Milt on his home river - the North Fork Nehalem. And what an introduction it was! Milt told me that some of his greatest satisfaction came from teaching people how to catch steelhead and he demonstrated his passion as we floated the river that day. He patiently and good humourdly shared his phenomenal knowledge of fishing and the river. When, after I had missed more than a few hits, I actually got a beautiful hatchery fish to stick and in the boat, I think Milt was just as excited as I was. It was a thrill to bring three fish home that day, but an even greater impression remains of this mild mannered guy who obviously loved, respected and understood nature as so few of us do. Although I barely knew Milt Fisher, our brief encounter left a major impression. I will miss not being able to get to know him better. My thoughts and prayers are with his family and loved ones.

big guy
03-06-2002, 04:37 PM
I fish the north fork regularly and knew milton as the great person and fisherman he was. I to will miss seeing him fishing below his house or in his raft on the river. I will remember him and the times we fished our way down the river. we lost a good one.

Roeboat
03-06-2002, 08:42 PM
I am very sorry about your loss. Those fisherman that are friends and share their knowledge are remembered most fondly. Wish you all the best.

Jennie@ifish
03-06-2002, 11:06 PM
:depressed: Yeah, what you said... :depressed: