It is with heavy hearts that we must share that our beloved Father, Alan Sr. passed away early Saturday morning. Our Father has touched so many with his love of fishing, nature and his beautiful words and pictures. The only thing surpassing his love of fishing for native brookies was the love of his family & our mother Jeanette. We would like to thank all of you who have followed him for so many years. Whether only communicating with him through the blog, or in person, Dad considered each of you very dear friends. We know that you will all join us in our grief at the loss of such an amazing man. Please keep his memory with you.
~Alan, Jr. & Candace
ho no how sorry I am what happened! We send our condolences to the family and he will always be well remembered, we will always carry our friend Alan in our hearts.
ReplyDeleteOh no, so sorry for your loss. While I never posted much, I looked forward to your father's writings.
ReplyDeleteVery sorry to hear about your loss... Alan was a true one & will be long remembered.
ReplyDeleteI'm very sorry to hear of this news of Brk Trts passing. I just wanted to let you and your family know that he, his travels and writings were a very large part of me, and will be sorely missed. My condolences, and RIP Brk Try (Alan)
ReplyDeleteHe held a special place in the Brook Trout Forest. Rest in peace, beside a small burbling stream.
ReplyDeleteI feel as I've lost a brother. Although Alan & I have never met in person, we have been blog friends for many years. I will miss him. Our condolences to the family. It's truly a sad day in blogdom.
ReplyDeleteI take the audacity to tell you this way, friend Mark, the same thing happens to me as to you, I am very sorry for what happened to our friend Alan, may God have him with him... from Tierra del Fuego, Argentina. ..
DeleteSo sorry for your families loss. I know I will think of Alan many times while fishing in the future.
ReplyDeleteAlan was as much an artist as he was an angler. His photos, flies, and descriptions of Brook trout and their natural surroundings made reading his blog a regular pleasure. My condolences to all who appreciated him.
ReplyDeleteDear Petrucci Family,
ReplyDeleteFirst, my condolences on the loss of Alan. I pray that you find the strength to get through this by remembering all of the wonderful memories Alan gave you. Secondly, he was a kind and generous man. In fact, just this past Christmas I was fortunate to win his raffle and receive one of his handmade fly boxes filled with his wonderful creations. Having that box and it's contents means so much more right now. How fitting that his last writing on this blog was entitled "Home Waters".
John,
DeleteI was the other recipient of the fly box giveaway. Such a beautiful box. At first my intention was to display the flies but I think Alan would prefer I fish them. So that's what I'm going to do: catch a brook trout on each of the flies he gave me. Best to you,
Art Urban
John,
Deletethank you for your kind word and prayers. Pops was very generous with everyone in life. I hope you enjoy the fly box for many years to come and think about him.
all my best,
Alan Jr.
I am very sad to hear this...my condolences to you and family.
ReplyDeleteI am so very sorry for your loss. How fortunate this community has been for the generosity of your Dad over the years. This blog has been a constant source of inspiration and serenity for me and each new post was a treasure. Thank you, Alan. You will be missed.
ReplyDeleteAlan enriched all our lives and will surely be missed.
ReplyDeleteMy thoughts and condolences are with the larger Petrucci family. Alan has always been kind, generous and sweet to me and everyone I've seen him interact with. I too somehow won a "lottery" and received a gift from him several years in a row. His beautiful "Blue Line" book that he self-published, a lovely box of a dozen hand-tied soft hackle flies (with an extra one he called a Zonker) and a beautiful and mysterious hand-painted watercolor of a beautiful brook trout. Somehow I never got his recipe for corned venison - but maybe that was one of his many secrets that he just couldn't part with.
ReplyDeleteAlan (aka Uppahdam) will remain very long in my thoughts, and I will think of Alan and Jeanette walking the trails at Red Brook whenever I am there.
Fish on Alan.
I hope there are many beautiful wild native brookies wherever you are.
Correction - it was a Bomber, not a Zonker!
DeleteTo our beloved Petrucci family,
ReplyDeleteWhat a loss you must be feeling right now! Our hearts go out to you in this difficult time! Alan was our morning cup of coffee! The blog that he started many years ago was simply an extension of who he was and the beautiful life he lead! I have tried to adopt the mantra of "Simplicity" in my life with Alan as my leader and example! There is no way any of us can explain the shining example he was!
May Gods peace rest squarely upon you all during this difficult time!
Doug Duvall aka Dougsden
Doug,
DeleteThank you for the kind words. We can all take a great lesson from Pops to enjoy the simple things in life. Stop and enjoy your surroundings and think of him next time you're fishing a small stream.
Alan Jr.
I'm so saddened to hear this and am sorry for your family's loss. Alan became a friend through fishing and his writing. He touched so many... My heart is with you (his family) at this time.
ReplyDeleteYour father created and left a wonderful legacy. He helped to highlight the beauty and simplicity of fishing small streams. I can guarantee that there are a number of individuals who frequented this website that were converts to your Dad's philosophy. I for one was reminded by your Dad to look back at my roots fly fishing small streams off the beaten path. Your Dad's gift to us can never be repaid, but we will look to carry on his approach to enjoying the outdoors. Thank you to Alan for the lessons well learned. Gone, but not forgotten.
ReplyDeleteGreg
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteDear Petrucci family,
ReplyDeleteI am so sorry to hear about Alan's passing and your great loss. His love for nature and generosity in sharing his knowledge of fly fishing opened my eyes to so much natural beauty that I will appreciate for years to come. I am a relative newcomer to fly fishing the streams of Connecticut and Alan's encouragement meant a lot to me. I never met him in person but through his posts, some emails and a wonderful little box of flies that appeared by surprise in my mailbox one day, he shared his deep knowledge with me and made an big impact that I will not forget. I will think of him and make sure to cast a soft hackle or Ausable bomber in his name as I visit the streams of Connecticut.
My deepest condolences,
Shawn Ferguson
My heart is broken that Alan has left us. I am having a hard time believing it actually. He was a good man who made the world a better place. Alan will be in my memory always.
ReplyDeleteWith deepest condolences to all his loved ones and friends,
Sam
Oh, such sad news! Alan has been a blogging buddy for a very long time. I could always count on him to provide an awesome adventure and comment on my blog with kind remarks. He had such a large following, which shows how well liked he was. Prayers for his family and wife at this time. He will be remembered fondly and will be missed by all of us who got to know him through his writing and photography talents.
ReplyDeleteI am so sorry to read this news. I looked forward to Alan's posts. I live in Vermont and many of the streams Alan fished reminded me so much of my streams here in Vermont. He was a true gentleman and a great advocate for our sport. I will miss him dearly. Take care, Ed Pirie
ReplyDeleteTo the Petrucci family; Alan was a breath of fresh air in a sea of otherwise tedious blogs. I can't tell you how much fun it's been to open the computer and see a new posting of his. So kind, so dignified, so utterly graceful in his manner. The correspondences we shared over these past years is a treasure to me. His flies that grace my tying bench; ...he said "Fish them, that's why I gave them to you!" At the time, I couldn't, but now, yes, this April will find me tossing one of Alan Petrucci's signature Ausable Bombers into my home waters. I will never look upon a small blue line again without thinking of Alan Petrucci.
ReplyDeleteI never met him, but I looked at his blog every day. I will miss him, and pray for your family in this time of loss.
ReplyDeleteI am heartbroken over this news. But his was a life well lived in many aspects. We are lucky he shared so much with us.
ReplyDeleteGodspeed to teh family. He will be so so missed.
ReplyDeleteGive rest O Lord, to thy servent Alan, who has fallen asleep. The world will now be a little colder. Vichnaj ja pamiate (memory eternal).
ReplyDeletePlease accept my condolences for your great loss. No words that I could write will lessen the grief that you all must be feeling. Most of us never met Alan. But we knew him. He was a good friend. He was a brother. A top bloke.
ReplyDeleteWith Kindest Regards to You All,
Steve from Downunder.
I am profoundly saddened by the passing of Alan. My heartfelt sympathies to Alan's family and friends.
ReplyDeleteTo Alan's SSR friends he was such a special person. The kind of person that could be a dear friend though we never met and a cherished fishing partner though we never fished together. I am so grateful to Alan for taking us along on his forays in the brook trout forest and his visits to his beloved small streams. He will be greatly missed but never forgotten.
God bless,
JJ
Go in peace, my friend. My the grace of God be upon you and your family. We will miss you, Alan.
ReplyDeleteMy condolences to Alan's family and extensive network of friends. I only knew Alan through this blog, but will miss him nonetheless. R.I.P. Mr. Petrucci.
ReplyDeleteTo the Petrucci family.
ReplyDeleteIam based in Johannesburg,South Africa. Just like Alan I value the immense beauty of everything in flyfishing, and just like Alan still treasure a peanut butter and jelly sandwich.
I came across Alan's blog many years ago and it became part of my daily ritual to read up on his wonderful viewpoint on life in general and everything that counts.
It saddens me more than words can describe to have this taken away.
Wishing the family all the blessings and love during this time.
Fellow flyfisherman
Angelo Komis
I am so sorry for your loss. I have been reading Allans words for many many years. When I worked, he started my day. I am sad that I never had a chance to meet him. God bless him. I know he is fishing a small stream in heaven. Our sincerest condolences to the family
ReplyDeleteI am so sorry for your loss. I only knew him through his blog and from emails we exchanged. I will have those memories and his book to remember him by. Alan will be missed by many.
ReplyDeleteThis is truly heartbreaking news. Alan was an incredible man who will be missed by those who have and have never even met him. He has influenced and touched my life and so many others in ways that cannot be measured. His words, wisdom and images will hopefully be left on here as an inspiration for years to come. I will treasure the flies that he has tied me and he will be on my mind with every visit to the water and with every brook trout held. I hope to get to fish with him on the other side My prayers are with his family and our hearts our heavy.
ReplyDeleteI am terribly saddened by this news. Though we never met in person, he was a kindred spirit who shared our love of small streams and wild Brook Trout. Fair seas and following winds, my friend.
ReplyDeleteSo sorry for your loss. He always enriched my life with his thoughtful expression and wonderful pictures of his adventures he was so kind to share with all of us. RIP
ReplyDeleteDear Petrucci Family;
ReplyDeleteI'm so heartbroken & saddened for your loss. Alan was a special soul and he will be missed. You have no idea how much I enjoyed his Small Stream Reflections blog. His writings & photos caught the essence of what small stream fly fishing for Trout is all about...
My sincerest condolences to all of Alan's loved ones.
Sincerely;
Hollen Groff
I saw this last night but just couldn't respond then. Said a few prayers first and had to gather my thoughts. I always looked for a new post first when I woke up. Emailed occasionally. Cherish one of his contest winner flies. Sad day.
ReplyDeleteSo sorry for the loss of your Dad, husband. Alan's blog warmed my heart, he truly loved nature and his family. All Alan's readers will miss him so.
ReplyDeleteBill
Very sad to hear this news, Alan was an incredible inspiration for me and was one of the most important people to help me get back to my roots in small stream trout fishing after a short hiatus. Alan's willingness to help and inspire me via email and by sending me materials, selling me a few flies, and giving me tips and tricks was always something that made me smile. After some time he even gifted me the knowledge of the locations of a few of his past favorite streams in CT and I will never forget that kindness and his willingness to share. I will carry his memory and some of his flies with me on my trips to the streams he loved back east (and those he would have loved in my new home in CO as well.) Sadly I just lost my father as well, so this post hits home hard in more ways than one. Sending love and appreciation to the family. I promise to celebrate Alan's life while fishing, always. RIP.
ReplyDeleteKlags,
DeleteVery sorry on the passing of your father as well. You are one of the lucky chosen ones to gain knowledge of Pops favorite streams. Please carry him with you, and fish those flies, like he would have wanted.
My best,
Alan Jr.
I sure will, and sending good vibes to you and the family again.
DeleteSo sorry to hear of his passing, truly.
ReplyDeleteAlthough a infrequent visitor of his BlogI have always enjoyed his
thoughts and photos form the small blue lines he would explore and share with his readers.
Thank you for posting, so many that pass only seem to fall off the intergoogle and the readers are left to surmise what happened.
He'll never be gone as long as the memories are there.
hank
I'm so sorry to hear of your loss. Alan's love of nature and his appreciation of its details was rare, his ability to share that love with others even rarer. Rest in Peace, you will be missed
ReplyDeleteI am so sorry to hear of your sad loss Alan jnr. Your father was a great inspiration to so many people and his posts and blog had a global reach. Although we never met, I truly consider him a great friend having swapped emails, stories, anecdotes, flies and tying material. I hope you and your family take great comfort from the kind words on this blog from all those whose lives your father touched. Condolences to you all from across the pond.
ReplyDeleteTake care and stay safe
Alistair
I am so sorry for Alan's family and deeply saddened about his passing. Alan will remain a great inspiration and I know from his words and pictures that he is a kindred spirit to many of us that cherish small waters and wild brook trout. I will remember his insights to life and love of nature always. Godspeed Alan.
ReplyDeleteI'm so sorry for your loss. I didn't know him well, but my, what a prince of a fellow.
ReplyDeleteI am truly sorry for your loss, I have followed Alan on and off for many years and his passing will bring a sadness shared by many. My thoughts are with you you all in this sad time.
ReplyDeleteMay he RIP it was a great site
ReplyDeleteI am so sorry to hear this news it seems I've lost a brother. Alan and I go back over 12 years sharing our blog news. He will be missed not only by me but all of the fly fishermen he converses with through his blog. ---My condolences to the family and know he will not be forgotten!
ReplyDeleteThis is heartbreaking news. I am so sorry to hear this. My heartfelt condolences to the Petrucci family. I initially met Alan years ago by asking him questions online. One day while fishing the Tankerhoosen River I ran into him and was able to finally introduce myself. From that moment on he became a small stream mentor to me. I enjoyed every moment I spent with him on his favorite small streams. I will miss him dearly.
ReplyDeleteSad news. Thank you for sharing.
ReplyDeleteVery sorry to hear about your loss, thoughts and prayers for you. Your father is chasing brookies on beautiful new waters now.
ReplyDeleteWe never met, but spoke (typed, actually) a few times. He was so very able to convey his love of small streams, and small fish. He will be missed, but thankfully, we can return now and then to his blog when we need a breath of fresh air. My condolences to his family.
ReplyDeleteVery saddened to hear the news. I found this blog many years ago and always looked forward to new posts. I loved the looks at nature, his fly tying, and his reminiscences. I'm really glad Alan was doing what he enjoyed with his family and friends. I also consider myself fortunate to have gotten to go along with him on these journeys. His words and photos were wonderful. I wish his family and close friends the ability to remember all the wonderful times. God Bless
ReplyDeleteI am very sorry for your loss.
ReplyDeleteI was very sad to see this news on FaceBook over the weekend. While I didnt always comment, I found Alan's simple enjoyment of the world around him, be it a meal, time with family or friends, just observing nature, tying a fly... and certainly, fishing, to be a light.
ReplyDeleteMost days I'd check, to see if he had added another post, enjoy the photos and tales.
A few years ago, he reached out, after I commented on a particular photo, of a small stream, cascading through an early fall wood. He asked for my address, and sent me a 5X7 of the image in a magnetized "frame". That picture is on my refrigerator and a part of every day.
I wish that new words and adventures could be shared by Alan.
But I am so grateful that all of us were able to see the world, and feel how good the world can be, through him. I suspect that through those lessons, we will all take him with us, into the future.
Thank you Alan!
Will
I am so sad to hear this news, and I am so sorry for your family's loss. I suppose it's really all our loss -- including those of us who knew Alan through his writing, his flies, his love of small streams and wild brook trout, and his kindly spirit. I still have two of his flies. One I will fish, and the other I will retire to place of honor. Tight lines, old friend. We miss you already.
ReplyDeleteFor some reason it didn't leave my name. Steve Culton.
DeleteI am sending your family love and holding Alan in my thoughts. Alan had a profound impact on me as an angler and a conservationist, and I can trace much of the joy I've found fishing the small streams of New England over the past decade back to a single fishing trip with him in western MA in my early 20s, when he taught me to read a river and skitter an Ausable Bomber upstream. Alan was an artist on the water, a gifted teacher, and a generous soul. He will be with us every time we venture into brook trout forest.
ReplyDeleteI’m saddened by the loss of Alan. I’ve looked forward to reading each instalment of Small Stream Reflections for many years and enjoyed Thin Blue Lines. Both brightened my life. Alan’s unpretentious nature, goodness and decency were apparent in his writings.
ReplyDeleteSincere condolences to Jeanette and family.
Greg Reynolds
My sincerest condolences to your family. I had never met Alan in person but have always considered him a friend. It was after reading so many of his posts that I had decided years ago to begin my own blog. I wanted to share my love of nature in the same way that he did. No matter where I was or what I was doing I would read one of his posts and could be transported to the ideal spot where I wanted to spend my time fishing in the woods. As I sit here writing these words I'm looking at several beautiful streamers that he tied for me a few years ago. I will treasure them even more now. He will be deeply missed.
ReplyDeleteAlan's Book;
ReplyDeleteA mournful week for all of us who only knew Alan through his amazing blog, which I've shared with so many people, some of whom do not even fish. I would hope that his family and especially grandchildren can find continuing connection to him through this blog and I hope that it stays published for many years for others to discover. I have seen and heard references to alan's book Thin Blue Lines, and even inquired with him more than once about how to obtain a copy. he mentioned in comments just weeks ago that he would look into another printing. I'm wondering if someone here who has the book and has enjoyed it would be willing to pass it on to me for a generous price. i don't even know if it's just blog posts or new writings but am sure that it is a treasure. i would understand if no one wanted to part with it but if it's getting dusty on a shelf and you don't think you would read it again, please contact me to discuss a sale (or perhaps a short term loan if not willing to part with it). thank you. I wish it was not february in colorado or I would go hit a brookie stream in Alan's honor.
Tim
argenziano10@yahoo.com
Hi Tim,
DeleteWe as a family have discussed possibly looking into another printing, if there is much interest out there for people to get Pops book again. But we will look into it more. We will keep you all posted.
Alan Jr.
thank you. I've been reading through years of posts here and i actually see it come up often in the comments, and I only read a small fraction of comments...people asking alan how to get the book and he mentioning he was considering a new printing. just a suggestion, but maybe do a new post here just to ask people what kind of interest level there would be...that would get noticed and give you a good response. thanks
DeleteFathers are precious things, I lost my own father a couple of years ago. yet my last post on my blog was connected to him. I am sure that the words in his blog will give you comfort as you do leave something of yourself in your blog. With Sympathy .
ReplyDeleteThank you, and sorry for your loss.
DeleteI'm so sorry to hear this news. What a kind and generous person. As a fellow Brook Trout enthusiast, we initially met online, he offered to take me fishing to some secret spots. He coached me on how to fish them and put me on some gems. A sore loss for our community and for those who knew him.
ReplyDeleteOne of the lucky ones to honored with his secret spots, enjoy them!
DeleteI am so sorry to hear this news. I enjoyed this site for so many years. I only knew him thru the blog but he touched me in so many ways relating to fly fishing. I now fish wet fish due to Alan. I will miss him.
ReplyDelete“Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by this some have entertained angels without knowing it.” Hebrews 13:2
ReplyDeleteDear family, Alan entertained many, many people he never met including me. I am so saddened by the news of his passing and I grieve with you.
Dean
To the Petrucci Family -
ReplyDeleteI wish you all sincere condolences on the passing of Alan. I never met him or spoke with him, other than to comment a few times on his blog since discovering it a few years ago. His humanity, kindness and appreciation of life shone through in his every post, and the world is poorer without him in it. I hope you can find a small measure of peace in seeing how many people he touched here; he certainly gave me a greater sense of gratitude. As I enter my own later years, his wisdom will always be with me as I seek out the small, beautiful places where wild trout swim.
RIP Alan next time I catch a Brookie I'll hold it up to the sky for you to see
ReplyDeleteAll my thoughts are with you on the passing of Alan. I looked forward to his joy and serenity - always visited. He touched so, so many. Wow, he loved those spiders and bombers - his serenity and joy were truly singular. But, you know that already.
ReplyDeleteTruly, no one understood and marveled with such joy while afoot in a Brook Trout Forest. Will be really, really missed...
Again, all my sympathies for his blessed family...
My condolences to you and your family. I never met Alan in person but followed his blog regularly. I hope your family may find some peace in your time of sadness.
ReplyDeleteI have been a reader of Alans blog for many years. His enthusiasm and joy of just being at the waterside I am going to miss very much.
ReplyDeleteJohn.
With a flick of the cane he casts once again
to the riffle where twig nor leaf connect
To put his fly where where the Brookies lie
Let me add my sincere condolences for your family’s loss.
ReplyDeleteKevin
I found this blog to be an oasis on the internet and your father's humility, sincerity, and values inspirational. My condolences.
ReplyDeleteSo sorry for your loss. May he Rest In Peace.
ReplyDeleteOh no! I just today wanted to catch up with your Dad's blog as I've been away from it for some time and am so saddened learning about his passing. His passion for fly fishing for brook trout, photography and his beautiful tying and his kindness was a real inspiration for all of us who shared in his postings. My most sincere and heartfelt condolences to all his family. Mike from Maine
ReplyDelete