Petrel
02-07-2005, 04:52 PM
The purpose of my post is to advise you on the passing of Peter Rothwell earlier this morning. Some of you knew Peter as simply Peter. Others might know Peter based upon his post name of Tuna.
Please allow me to introduce myself. My name is Don and I began working with Peter about 5 years ago and I knew I would get the job because I saw a few pictures in his office with him holding stripers, albies, etc. Like Peter and his Dad, I too fished my entire life along the NJ shore with my Dad.
I had the pleasure 2 years ago to join Peter for some albie and striper fishing out on Montauk one October weekend. That trip confirmed my suspicions that Peter was truly addicted to fishing and his posts and communications were valid. Up until that trip, I only heard his various stories over lunch or on Mondays when I read his posts. I recall meeting Josh and some other notable names that day on the water to trade information on where the albies were and where they are. It only took me about an hour or two that morning to realize Peter’s ‘other life’ and those people that made his life special. I am sure many of you watch ESPN Outdoors and Jose Wahebe’s various fishing trips. Do you know how you get so tuned into that show that you escape from reality for 30 minutes and truly feel as though you are fishing with Jose? Well, I experienced the same every Monday when Peter would personally recap his weekend with me. I never had to take a fishing vacation because every workweek from September until late October would begin with a virtual Montauk fishing experience via Peter Rothwell. I was truly fortunate to have worked with such a nice guy.
For you guys reading this, he held you in his heart as part of his extended family. JoshR, AlbiemanMike, Bob, TedS, AndyF, and I am certain there are others…all of you entered Peter’s life and enjoyment of fishing! He’d speak to me about you and I would have to remind myself that these were not Peter’s children, but his fishing buddies. If you need further proof of Peter’s desire to fish until the end of life, then I must share this with you. Last April our company hired a new COO and Peter and I, along with others, were to report directly to this gentleman. As the weeks went along, our new COO would call us into his office one at a time and ask us the tell him “What’s in it for me?” That is, why do I come to work each day? A simple answer could not be communicated because one would have to be ‘politically correct’ and, after all, this was our new boss! I replied with the standard response that I am here to serve our customers, support revenue objectives, etc. Oh no, not Peter. Peter being the person he was replied, “Work is a place I come to between fishing weekends”. Who out there would have the gusto to look your boss in the eyes and say that?! But, that was Peter! Peter often compared his fishing habits to that of a drug addict in that he needed to work to earn money to feed his habit of fishing and maintaining his Boston Whaler, etc.
Unfortunately, in late October Peter began to feel ill. He was not himself and no longer had that ‘fight’ in his voice during company meetings. In early November I accompanied Peter to a local hospital here in Northern NJ for some unpleasant tests. This was the first of many test and various people Peter worked with assisted with his transportation needs. Peter underwent surgery right before Thanksgiving, was released a week later to head home. Peter probably spent 5 days at home before being readmitted and then spent all of December, January and early February at Mt. Sinai in NYC in their ICU. Sadly, I received news today that Peter died from cancer this morning. I started this paragraph with ‘unfortunately…’, but I will end it with ‘fortunately’. Fortunately, Peter used up all of his remaining vacation days in 2004 and used them well. He spent every last one of them chasing albies and fishing. He didn’t leave one day remaining. He used them all. No remainders! He fished to the end. I believe he reached triple digits this year in his catch and release of albies. Peter fished life to the end.
I have 5 years worth of work-related memories of Peter, 1 long Saturday in Montauk where we fished for 8 hours and 3 years worth of Peter’s infamous “Peter Rothwell’s Rock and Roll Fish” videos. I’m sure all of you have your memories of Peter as well. Please feel free to share them with one another and next fall when you are all out there chasing those albies, please look skyward and give a big hello to Peter. He’ll be watching over the east end of Montauk!
Please allow me to introduce myself. My name is Don and I began working with Peter about 5 years ago and I knew I would get the job because I saw a few pictures in his office with him holding stripers, albies, etc. Like Peter and his Dad, I too fished my entire life along the NJ shore with my Dad.
I had the pleasure 2 years ago to join Peter for some albie and striper fishing out on Montauk one October weekend. That trip confirmed my suspicions that Peter was truly addicted to fishing and his posts and communications were valid. Up until that trip, I only heard his various stories over lunch or on Mondays when I read his posts. I recall meeting Josh and some other notable names that day on the water to trade information on where the albies were and where they are. It only took me about an hour or two that morning to realize Peter’s ‘other life’ and those people that made his life special. I am sure many of you watch ESPN Outdoors and Jose Wahebe’s various fishing trips. Do you know how you get so tuned into that show that you escape from reality for 30 minutes and truly feel as though you are fishing with Jose? Well, I experienced the same every Monday when Peter would personally recap his weekend with me. I never had to take a fishing vacation because every workweek from September until late October would begin with a virtual Montauk fishing experience via Peter Rothwell. I was truly fortunate to have worked with such a nice guy.
For you guys reading this, he held you in his heart as part of his extended family. JoshR, AlbiemanMike, Bob, TedS, AndyF, and I am certain there are others…all of you entered Peter’s life and enjoyment of fishing! He’d speak to me about you and I would have to remind myself that these were not Peter’s children, but his fishing buddies. If you need further proof of Peter’s desire to fish until the end of life, then I must share this with you. Last April our company hired a new COO and Peter and I, along with others, were to report directly to this gentleman. As the weeks went along, our new COO would call us into his office one at a time and ask us the tell him “What’s in it for me?” That is, why do I come to work each day? A simple answer could not be communicated because one would have to be ‘politically correct’ and, after all, this was our new boss! I replied with the standard response that I am here to serve our customers, support revenue objectives, etc. Oh no, not Peter. Peter being the person he was replied, “Work is a place I come to between fishing weekends”. Who out there would have the gusto to look your boss in the eyes and say that?! But, that was Peter! Peter often compared his fishing habits to that of a drug addict in that he needed to work to earn money to feed his habit of fishing and maintaining his Boston Whaler, etc.
Unfortunately, in late October Peter began to feel ill. He was not himself and no longer had that ‘fight’ in his voice during company meetings. In early November I accompanied Peter to a local hospital here in Northern NJ for some unpleasant tests. This was the first of many test and various people Peter worked with assisted with his transportation needs. Peter underwent surgery right before Thanksgiving, was released a week later to head home. Peter probably spent 5 days at home before being readmitted and then spent all of December, January and early February at Mt. Sinai in NYC in their ICU. Sadly, I received news today that Peter died from cancer this morning. I started this paragraph with ‘unfortunately…’, but I will end it with ‘fortunately’. Fortunately, Peter used up all of his remaining vacation days in 2004 and used them well. He spent every last one of them chasing albies and fishing. He didn’t leave one day remaining. He used them all. No remainders! He fished to the end. I believe he reached triple digits this year in his catch and release of albies. Peter fished life to the end.
I have 5 years worth of work-related memories of Peter, 1 long Saturday in Montauk where we fished for 8 hours and 3 years worth of Peter’s infamous “Peter Rothwell’s Rock and Roll Fish” videos. I’m sure all of you have your memories of Peter as well. Please feel free to share them with one another and next fall when you are all out there chasing those albies, please look skyward and give a big hello to Peter. He’ll be watching over the east end of Montauk!