Rest In Peace Jack Gartside

Whenever I thinking of fly fishing, one man comes to mind. Jack Gartside. Although I only met and fished with the man once, he left a ever lasting impression. He lived and breathed fishing like no one else I’ve ever met. It’s with great sadness that I share his passing here today. After a lengthy battle with lung cancer, he passed away December 5th.

John Clarence “Jack” Gartside
1942 – 2009

From JackGartside.com

Sad news. Last evening, after a hospitalization of several weeks, Jack finally lost his protracted battle with lung cancer. He was in bed resting comfortably, attended by friends, with the first snow of the season falling silently outside.

Visiting hours will be held the evening of Wednesday December 9 in East Boston. A Funeral Mass will be held Thursday December 10 at Saint John’s Episcopal Church in Winthrop MA. Read full details on the Ruggiero-Mazzarella funeral home web site.

You will be missed my friend.

Gartside Update

Good News from Camp Gartside – Jack’s long time friend Mike Quigley tells me that initial treatments are going well!

“So Jack is at home. He has responded VERY well to the initial round of treatment. “Miraculous” is the very word his doctors used. It turns out he had a tumor in his throat the size of an orange. It was cutting off his windpipe and depleting his brain of oxygen. The chemo has shrunk it, although by how much I don’t know. His next round of treatment is scheduled for December 3. Until then the plan is he’ll be at home.“

Get Well Soon Jack

You’d be hard pressed to find a man more passionate about fishing, in the entire world, then Mr. Jack Gartside. Ever. I only met Jack a few times, while fishing for tarpon in Tortola, but he left a huge impression on me. Just five minutes with the man, and you’ll learn more about fishing then you ever though possible.

While I was away, Jack was diagnosed with small-cell lung cancer.

Although I barely know the man, my heart sank when I read the news. Jack is one of those larger then life people who can always make you smile and love nothing more then to fish. I think I speak for everyone who has ever met him, when I say – get well soon Jack!

I urge everyone to leave a comment for Jack on his blog, or pick up a pen and paper and mail him a letter!