Words of Sympathy

Over the past few weeks we have received many wonderful emails from friends and the like...
Here are some of the kind words passed on:

"I hadn't talked to Pete for quite a while, so I was happy to see his name and expected it was an e-mail from Pete himself. You can imagine my surprise when I got your message. There's no easy way to tell people, is there? For what it's worth, I think just saying it is as good a way as any, and I appreciate getting the news, sad as it is. Pete was a genuinely good guy--and a damn fine tier--and I always truly enjoyed working with him. We had some real fun at the shows. So sorry to hear he's gone. Wish I'd got to know him better, but I'll miss him all the same. " Sincerely, Skip Morris

"Our deepest sympathy and prayers are with you in this time of sorrow. Pete was a great man." Rob Crandall www.watertimeoutfitters.com

This next one from Charlie Schillinksy really touched my heart. "this is really hard news to accept. Please accept my condolences and please pass on my prayers to you and your family. I will severely miss Pete. He had been a true friend and a tremendous mentor. I will cherish the memories of our times together. God bless you and I hope you are able to remember to good things. We have not lost Pete, he will dwell in our hearts forever. Charlie.

PS: I posted the following on several of the chat boards around in the West:

I just received word from Genna McClure, Pete Parker's granddaughter, who accompanied him on many of his trips to various shows around the country. Pete was an exquisit fly tier, a very professional fly fisherman, and an outstanding member of our community. He passed away from what is thought a stroke or heart attack yesterday, January 12th. Pete had been diagnosed with lung cancer but this is not thought to be connected with his passing. Many of you have heard his voice at the fly fishing venues, especially the ISC shows in the past when he introduced the tiers who went up on stage to display their talents. I have known him for about 30 years now and feel priviledged to call him a friend. Pete will be missed by all of us and no one will fill the void he has left. Semper Fi Pete. " - Thank you Charlie. I am sorry for your loss of a friend, and the loss of a wonderful Grandfather/father to me.

"I'm so sorry to hear this terrible news. It really is a shock as we all thought Pete would be with us for a while after the great news that he'd beaten the lung cancer.

He was a great guy and I'm thankful to have gotten to know him. Please let me know when the memorial is planned.

Take care and the best to you and your family"

Dave Kruss

This next story has always been one of my personal favorites of Pete's, gross as it is...He could always put a fun spin on things: "Pete was a special mentor to me as
> well as many others in Evergreen Trout Unlimited. I remember the
> minature fly tying 'room' he built and donated to an ETU fundraiser. I
> still have at least one wooden fly box that he built and donated to
> our auction.
>
> Pete once told me that as he was on an ocean fishing trip and when the
> seas got rough most everyone got sick. He suprised me by saying he was
> thinking of me. Then he related that he too had gotten sick and caught
> his teeth as they were about to depart to the briney deep. After that
> I had a 'spare set' made for him. Many times i've pictured this in my
> mind and subsequently made spare sets for other patients.
>
> I enjoyed other fishing stories that Pete related and I'm certain you
> have and will get many more. I hope you will let me know when and
> where the memorial service is to take place. I feel fortunate to have
> known Pete and to watch you grow up in our world of fishing friends.
>
> Memories are what we have that keep us going." - Richard Wheeler

"My prayers to all his family. He played an important role in my life and I'd certainly appreciate hearing about a memorial service." Ed Berg

"I am truly sorry to hear this. You and the family have my deepest sympathies. Pete was a great guy, always with a smile on his face. " Nick Curcione

"Pete was a very dear friend to me, who provided a great opportunity to tie flies at 
the Denver ISE shows during the past 5 or so years, and for that, I am grateful.  
I'm lucky to have known your grandfather and listen to his great stories about 
fishing and tying, and I'm grateful we spent a great deal of time sitting and 
talking just last Sunday afternoon.  We had a wonderful time together.  
I will miss him." - Mark McMillan

 "He gave me an opportunity as a new member of the fly tying community
 to showcase my tying at the Sacramento ISE show for the past several 
years. We will all miss him very much." - Steve Korbay

 "I am very saddened to hear about your Grandfather's passing. Pete 
was a warm and engaging man who cared about his friends. I especially 
remember his love for you. You were the apple of his eye for sure. He 
always beamed with pride when you were with him. That is what I will 
remember most. 

I pray your pain of losing him will heal quickly and I will forever have fond memories of a man who helped make me feel so welcome on my first trip to California and many other days thereafter.

God bless Pete and his loved ones. May he rest in peace. "

Sincerely,

Bob Popovics

" I will miss him terribly. Every time we saw each other we talked about our granddaughters. He love you and was proud of you. You made his life a happy place. You could not have been a better granddaughter to Pete. I am sorry for your loss and I am sorry for my loss. God Bless Pete. " - Eric Pettine

"Pete was a dear friend and I will miss him. I did many shows with him and have wondered for some time what he had been doing. I am so sorry for you, I remember how much he talked about you and how proud he was of you. Sincerely," - Marc Williamson

"Genna:
I am so sorry to learn of Pete's passing. You have my heartfelt sympathy. He will certainly be missed by the many people whose lives he touched, but of course, not as much he will be missed by members of his family like you, his very special granddaughter. He was a unique and very special individual, who always gave so much of himself, especially to the fly fishing fraternity.

I had many wonderful hours with Pete, but none more special than those I spent with you and he at Midway. I will always cherish those memories, and will never forget the man, his spirit,his puckish sense of humor, his warmth, his always positive attitude, even in the face of adversity." -Rick Gaffney

"Merry and I are very sad to hear of Pete's passing. We were lucky to be with him this past weekend in the tying theater at the Denver ISE. We have known Pete for many years and will miss him. He was indeed an icon in the fly fishing world and he carried the mantle with gentle dignity and humility. Please accept our condolences." - Mike and Merry of Baja Flyfishing.

"I'm sorry to here about the passing of your grand father and a real good
friend of mine.  Pete was the most enjoyable person to hang around with
at the shows.   I was really shocked when I received an email
from Sandi telling me that he passed away.  In December, I was looking
at the helicopter fly that he had given me years ago and now it has a
special place on my fly tying desk.
He was so proud to talk about you especially when you got into law enforcement."
- Jay Murakoshi

"What can I say except I am so sorry for the loss. This is very sad news, indeed! Pete was a great person and an important personality in fly fishing.

He gave me my first break as a celebrity tyer at the San Mateo ISE show many years ago, and I remain grateful to him for that opportunity. Fortunately I was able to express my gratitude to him before his illness.

He was the voice of the fly tying theatre. And those fortunate to have been introduced by him knew they had reached a special level of accomplishment in the tying arts.
His generosity, fairness, good nature and sincerity will be missed...... along with his hearty laugh.

With great sincerity and sorrow," - John Ryzanych

"Pete was the best friend I ever had and to say I will miss him would be a gross understatement." - Dan Byford

"I'm sitting here looking of a picture of Pete and
 I in Midway. He was truely a great man and truely a great friend. 
Please keep me informed of the service in the spring.  We had some great
 times and he made me laugh harder than anyone could. Keep a smile on 
your face he wouldn't want it anyother way!!  He will be missed"     Capt. Ed Hughes

I love how colorful fly-fishers are, this one really made me laugh. Thank you Rod Grant!
"I am very sorry to hear the news. Thanks so much for contacting me. I 
will move heaven and earth to make it to the memorial if only you let me
 know the when and where. Pete was my dearest and longest known friend 
in fly tying and I will miss him more than you can imagine. I am upset 
with him, however. I was hoping to go first. With him in heaven ahead of
 me, the fishing will be ruined by the time I get there. He'll have 
spooked all the fish and it will be impossible for me to have any fun. 
To know Pete is to have loved the big ol' bear. Let me know, please, 
when the memorial will take place?" - Rod Grant
I replied to Rod, and said that the fishing won't be that bad, as I was always the
better fisher. ;-) I am proud to say I ALWAYS caught more than he did when we went
together...maybe that's why he stopped taking me...

"your message knocked me out, I was just thinking last week about Pete
when I saw the various fly tiers at the shows.  He and I shared many a
libation in the palms, the artic, and now to know.  My thoughts go out
to everyone who knew
a great guy, super friend and holder of many distinctions, like the
ability to grab warm water lobsters under the shelfs of the Belize
reefs. We all will miss hearing his laughter and watching him marvel
some young one on how to tie a mouse.  Please let me
know when you have the memorial.  My thoughts of clear waters and tight
lines for his memory." - John Aaron

"He will be dearly missed and I will always cherish the times I spent with Pete.
His humor, warmth and plain generosity" - Lance Gray

"On behalf of the O'Loughlin family and myself our deepest condolences to you and your

family. As stated words can't express how much he will be missed, he was wonderful man

with a passion of doing things right. Our thoughts and prayers are with you and your family.

Pete sure had a great smile!" - Joe Brennan

"Oh, no, this cannot be.  I can't believe
it.  Pete and I had a great time at the ISE Show on saturday, a
wonderful conversation.  I am so sorry, I can not adequately express my
grief.  Please accept my heart felt condolences to you and the entire
family.  Pete will be greatly missed and always remembered as a true friend
and very much the gentleman." - Al Makkai

"We are both so sorry to hear the sad news. None of us can believe he is gone. He was such a part of all of our lives in the fly fishing community.

Pete was a big man in many ways. He had a big heart and a kind personality. Even though we saw him only once or twice a year during the shows, it always felt like a reunion meeting up with him and all the other tiers. We always loved hearing him tell stories of his fishing adventures while we were there. He was a good story teller! 'And he always talked about you with nothing but love in his heart. You were the apple of his eye. He was always so proud of you.

All three of us are very saddened, but he lives on in our hearts. And he will live on in MANY hearts.

Best wishes to you and your family.

Sincerely," Raymond, Cindy and Raymond Jr

Thank you to everyone who as emailed and sent their condolences. These are just a
sampling of what people have sent to me. I am honored and humbled by these wonderful
words and memories.

Of course I am biased, but Pete was a wonderful man. He was the best Father/Grandfather
I could have ever hoped for, and I am extremely lucky to have had him in my life.
He took me on my first fishing trip when I was only three, and I still remember it
to this day. I out fished him, EVEN THEN! ;-)

I am still at a loss for words when it comes to expressing my own personal memories
and cherished, shared experiences with Pete. Thank you, again, to such a wonderful
community of people. You have all truly made his life wonderful, and mine.


As I get more time, I will post more emails and comments on here. 

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