Joe Pugach 2021

In Memorium to Departed Fellow EJTU Chapter Members
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​Joe Pugach, who was President of the East Jersey Chapter from 1981-1983, passed away in Naples, FL on November 28, 2021 after a long struggle with cancer. 
 
Joe was born in Boston on January 20, 1937, and received his BS from MIT and a PhD in Chemistry from Columbia. For many years, he worked as a chemist at Halcon, SD, before moving to Aristech in the Pittsburgh area in 1987. 
 
He was a very active member of Trout Unlimited and especially of the East Jersey chapter, a frequent contributor to this newsletter, a master of fly-tying who also taught others to tie flies, and a conservationist dedicated to preserving streams for future generations of fishermen. 
 
He is survived by his wife, Marilyn Fabian of Naples, FL, his sister, Martha Weinman Lear of New York, NY, his daughter, Sara Pugach (Scott Frey) of Fullerton, CA, his son, Art Pugach, of Englewood, NJ, and two granddaughters, Catriona and Saskia Frey.

Ray Cappock 2020

EJTU Past President Ray Cappock, a resident of New Milford for over 42 years, died suddenly Thursday July 9th at the age of 86.   In addition to serving a President, Ray was Editor of Riffles for many years and also served as Conservation Committee Chair.  Ray also helped lead the chapter through the Cresskill dam removal project.
Ray is survived by his devoted wife of 48 years, Moira (nee McCann) Cappock. He is further survived by his cherished children Patrick Francis Cappock and his wife Deirdre and Sean Raymond Cappock and his wife Lindsey, his treasured brother-in-law Raymond McCann and sister-in-law Eileen McCann, as well as many loving nieces and nephews. Finally, he leaves behind numerous dear friends. 
After graduating from St. Peter's College in 1956, Ray proudly served as an Officer in the United States Navy from 1957 to 1962. Ray then had a distinguished professional career with General Electric, first at the Syracuse, New York, facility and then overseas at the General Electric facility in Germany. After getting married in 1971, Ray earned a Master's Degree in Finance from Fordham University. He would later go on to serve as the Treasurer of New York City Off Track Betting. Following his retirement from OTB, he continued his career at the New Jersey League of Credit Unions. Most recently, he has been working part-time in the office of the Borough of River Edge. 
Ray always kept himself busy with various endeavors. He served his community as a Committee Chairman for many Cub Scout and Boy Scout functions. He also served on the Board of Directors of the New Milford Swim Club, the St. Joseph's School Board of Education, the Finance Committee of the Parish Council of St. Joseph's Church and the Bergen Catholic High School Father's Club. Additionally, he held the position of President for Trout Unlimited for one term and subsequently authored the Trout Unlimited Newsletter. 
Ray was a man of many diverse talents and interests. He was a proud member of Mensa International. He was an enthusiastic gardener. He enjoyed exercising at the gym. He was an avid reader. He loved watching soccer on TV, listening to opera, and attending Broadway plays. He gave generously of his time to Meals on Wheels. And he had a gift for being able to fix anything. 
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Ray's honor to the New Milford Volunteer Ambulance Corps, 213 River Road, New Milford, NJ 07646.  He will be missed.

 Mike Kula 2020 

Mike Kula passed away on July 2nd 2020 after a long hard battle with cancer.  Mike was a police officer for many years and rose in the ranks to become a Captain in East Orange NJ.  He was also a noted sharpshooter as well. 

Recently he worked as a crossing guard.  Just some of his other interests included primitive camping and playing guitar.  Mike was also known to show up to EJTU events in his cool van, completely outfitted for the outdoors with a Yeti coolers, a bed and fishing tackle and supplies.
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Mike attended many EJTU fishing trips such as the Adirondack trip, Cast and Blast, Broadhead and Catskills picnic.  Mike was sure to introduce his grandson to sport of fly fishing as well and they attended many of our events together.  Like many of our members Mike was an avid fly angler and tier.  Mike also became quite fond of fishing the East Branch of the Delaware with friends from EJTU like Joe Fusco.  Mike will be very much missed.

Bill Borowski 2020

Bill Borowski had been in hospice care and passed away the morning of June 25th. Bill was a past President of EJTU, past 1st Vice President, webmaster and so much more. Bill was an educator and also worked for many years at the Ramsey Outdoor store in Paramus and after-wards in Ramsey. 

While working at Ramsey Outdoor Bill was responsible for recruiting countless mem-bers to East Jersey Trout Unlimited and preaching the merits of cold-water conserva-tion. Bill was an excellent fly tier, having won the Frank Hall fly tying contest several times, and top notch angler. 
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Most importantly Bill was astrong advocate for conservation, always willing to share his knowledge and a tireless volunteer at East Jersey Trout Unlimited. He was a great friend of so many of us. He will be very much missed. Let us all resolve to continue our efforts making EJTU the best organization it can be and to continue to advocate for conservation just as Bill did.

Ron Fletcher 2020

EJTU member Ronald Fletcher SR, age 83, of Hawthorne, NJ passed away on on Wednesday, April 15, 2020. Born and raised in Paterson, Ronald had lived in Hawthorne for 55 years. He served his country as a sailor in the U.S. Navy. After his service, Ronald worked as a machinist for G. R. Kelm Machine Works in Paterson and later Homac Machinery. He had been a member of the Joan Wulff Fly Fishers Club.

Ronald was the beloved husband of Carol (nee: Wyer) Fletcher. Loving father of Ronald Fletcher, Jr. and his wife Amy of Hawthorne and Elaine Tirrito and her husband Frank of Mahwah. Dear grandfather of Alex Fletcher, Aaron Fletcher and Jessica Rodriguez. Dearest brother of Harry Fletcher, Jr. and his wife Susan of Thorndale, PA. 

Immediate funeral services will be private to the family with an entombment of Laurel Grove Memorial Park in Totowa. Future funeral services will be announced at a later date. 

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to a charity of choice.

George Petersen 2020

It is with great sadness that I announce the passing of veteran EJTU member George Petersen.  I know we all share a deep appreciation for everything George did for East Jersey Trout Unlimited.  George was a long time member of our chapter’s Board of Directors.  He also previously served as President.  For many years George supervised our Trout in the Classroom program.  He also taught at our fly fishing class and was an instructor at EJTU’s Wayne fly tying class up until the present.  George was a passionate conservationist and of course an avid fly tier and angler.  Everyone always looked forward to the gift baskets donated by George and Rita Petersen at our annual banquet.  In fact, they were so wildly popular, that they frequently brought in the most raffle tickets.  George will be sorely missed.  As EJTU members we will continue to fight for his cause of cold water conservation.

Petersen, George F. Jr. age 75 of Clifton at rest in Ridgewood on March 30, 2020.  Born in Paterson, he lived in Paterson before moving to Clifton 50 years ago. He was a Reading Specialist/Teacher for the Oakland Board of Education, Valley Middle School, Oakland for 34 years before retiring in 2000. George was a parishioner of St. Bonaventure R.C. Church, Paterson.  He was an avid fisherman and member of Trout Unlimited of East Jersey.  He was a committee chairman for the Boy Scouts of America Troop #7, Clifton.  He cherished time spent with his family, especially his 4 grandchildren. George was a graduate of Seton Hall University and William Paterson University and was an Adjunct Professor at Felician University.  

Beloved husband of 51 years to the former Rita A.  Hopler of Clifton.  Loving father of Jeffrey Petersen and his wife Helena of Totowa, Marc Petersen and his wife Lindsey of Wilson, NC and David Petersen and his wife Megan of Morris Plains. Dear grandfather of Conor, Quinn, Rick and Isla. Devoted brother of Peter Petersen of Osprey, Fl and Theresa Petersen of Harvey Cedars.  Also survived by several nieces and nephews.

Out of an abundance of caution and due to the recommendation of social distancing, the family has chosen to have all services for George to be private with a memorial at a later date. As a form of remembrance the family has asked for donations to be made in George's memory to Eva's Village, 393 Main Street, Paterson, NJ 07501.

John Rice 2020

John H. Rice, Jr., 77, of Harrington Park, passed away on Sunday, March 15, 2020. Beloved husband of 52 years to Donna (nee Siebert). Loving father of John H. Rice, III and his wife Patricia of Suffern, NY and Dione Olson and her husband Robert of Hillsdale. Proud grandfather of Zachary, Daniel, Jesse and Gracie Jo. Dearest brother of Diane Zimmerman, Christine Hickey and Margo Sprague and loving uncle to many nieces and nephews.

John was a USMC veteran.  Before retirement, he was an electrician with Local 3. An avid outdoorsman, John belonged to Trout Unlimited, Rochelle Park, Healing Waters, Hackensack and the Eagle Mountain Hunting Club. He was also an avid gardener.
Unfortunately, due to the current world health crisis funeral services will be postponed.
A memorial celebration of John’s life will take place at a future date and will be announced.
In lieu of flowers, donations in John’s memory may be made to St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital, www.stjudes.org.

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​John was very active in EJTU.  He will be very greatly missed.

Bob Alagna 2018

We regretfully announce the sudden passing of long time TU member, Bob Alagna.   Bob was a member of EJTU since the mid 80’s and was very active in the chapter until he relocated full-time to Glen Spey, NY, in 2005.  

​An excellent fisherman and outdoorsman, Bob spent a great deal of time in Pulaski each year along with a month in Montana each summer and many hours along the banks of the Delaware and Beaverkill rivers.  He was active in the chapter and a fun guy to fish with who enjoyed every moment on the water.  He will be sorely missed.

Doug Farra 2018

Bill Silvia 2017

On July 3rd 2017, Bill Silvia passed away after a brief battle with cancer.  Although not a member of EJTU (Bill belonged to the Ken Lockwood Gorge Chapter)  he was frequently seen on our fishing trips and often attended our Veterans Services / Project Healing Waters projects.  

​Bill was an accomplished fly tier and fisherman, who was always willing to share his expertise and knowledge with other anglers.  He will be missed greatly.  An excerpt from his obituary on nj.com follows.

William H. Silvia 'N.J. Fly Fisherman of the Year,' of Millington, 74 William H. Silvia, 74, of Millington, N.J., died at home on July 3, 2017. Bill was born and raised in Jersey City, N.J. He served in the United States Army and worked for Patent Construction Systems for 42 years. After retiring, Bill became a master fisherman. He was N.J. Fly Fisherman of the Year in 2010. He is survived by his wife, Diane; daughters, Jane Epstein and her husband, Adam, Beth Silvia, and two granddaughters. Memorial will be private. Memorial donations may be made to projecthealingwaters.org.

Bill Silvia

Don Sirota 2017

Don Sirota

On Saturday, April 1st, 2017 Don Sirota, a long time EJTU member, died.  Don spent many years working with the Chapter and he was the first to take on the effort to locate and build a handicapped anglers access in our area.

Don spent many hours reviewing possible locations, looking at plans and presenting the project to municipalities where we hoped to locate the access, but we were turned down and, sadly, the access still is looking for a home.

Don also served as the Chapter’s librarian. In the days before youtube, the chapter maintained a library of magazines and DVD’s which could be borrowed by our members and Don lugged cases of library materials to every membership meeting and tracked the members who borrowed the information. Don also participated in many of the educational events conducted by the Chapter. I think this was his favorite thing since he loved working with kids and was great teaching and engaging them.

Don suffered from Huntington’s disease so, for the last several years, participating in EJTU meetings and events was limited by the toll that the disease was taking on his body. Don was a private guy when it came to his illness and opted to forego offers by several members to provide transportation when he could no longer drive. 

At Don's funeral his two teenaged grandsons proudly wore flies that they had tied with Don on the lapels of their suit jackets. Don was involved with many things during his life but EJTU was one of only two affiliations mentioned in his obituary. Don’s EJTU cap was placed beside him in his coffin. His spirit will continue to support us in all we do. Rest in peace and may the trout always be rising. 

Eugene Bielen 2017

Eugene Bielen

Eugene seen sitting to the left of Al Morel, age 89, of Rochelle Park on Friday, January 13, 2017. Eugene is survived by his loving sister Ruth Taracka of Greenwich CT. Eugene was a United States Army Veteran serving in the Korean War. He was a member of the Rochelle Park American Legion Post 170, VFW and longtime Trout Unlimited.

Gene could usually be found sitting in the right side (when looking at the guest speaker) front row of our EJTU meetings.  He will be missed.

Donald A. Ecker 2017

Donald A. Ecker

East Jersey Trout Unlimited's Founding President Donald A. Ecker passed away on January 2nd 2017.  Don was a great friend to our chapter and our mission of coldwater conservation. He will be greatly missed.  Don's obituary can be read here.

In 1971, in the most populace county in the most densely populated state in the country, a group of individuals had the foresight to start a chapter of Trout Unlimited that would become one of the primary stewards of the region’s precious waterways.

Don Ecker, an avid fly fisherman and an outdoor columnist for The Record newspaper, had been a member of both the Sparta, NJ chapter of TU and the Theodore Gordon Fly Fishermen.  However, like a lot of northern New Jersey fishermen, he wanted a chapter much closer to home and one that would dedicate itself to protecting the rivers and streams of the ever-expanding suburban landscape.  So he contacted National TU and applied for a new charter.  From a list of New Jersey members that National TU had sent him, he assembled a group of individuals who would become the foundation of East Jersey Trout Unlimited.

In the same Fort Lee apartment where Don and his wife Barbara lived until his passing, this group of men and women met and laid out the plans for the new chapter.  The application was completed, National TU approved it, and East Jersey Trout Unlimited was born.

Ed Sikorski 2013

Ed Sikorski

Ed Sikorski passed away in August of 2013.  Ed was a great friend to the Ramapo River and highly active member of EJTU.  He will be greatly missed.