Very very sad news.....

[Jim Fox]

I received some extremely bad news today. Tom Fry, who some of you will recall from the FF@/NLFTF Alberta Conclaves, passed away this morning. In recent months, Tom had been fighting abdominal cancer.

 

I will post any details about memorial services as soon as I have them.

 

Jim

[RangerBob]

Jim, I got your e-mail today.

 

I am in total shock man.. I just spoke to him on the phone two weeks ago from Toronto. I was optimistic the chemo would help, and we would be Klaving next year. Next Years Klave will be in his honor man. I have just been looking at his website, and past Klave pics now. What a shock indeed.

 

http://members.shaw.ca/tfry/fish.html

 

http://ranger-bob.net/Embarrass2005-archived.html

 

"Eventually, all things merge into one, and a river runs through it. The river was cut by the world's great flood and

runs over rocks from the basement of time. On some of the rocks are timeless raindrops. Under the rocks are

the words, and some of the words are theirs. I am haunted by waters. " - Norman Maclean

 

Ranger Bob

 

http://ranger-bob.net/?p=873

[Michael Dell]

Tom was a true gentleman. He will be missed.

 

Michael

[RangerBob]

Tom was a true gentleman. He will be missed.

 

Michael

Indeed, Michael... I think we need to step up and organize that 'Bow River Drainage Klave ][' in his honor next year at the spot he hosted on the banks of the Bow River back in 2000. That truly was a memorable Klave for many reasons. I know we had talked about it for years too, so time to get er done. A pontoon float from Calgary down to Carlsand. Let's make it happen!

 

Pics posted here:

 

Jim Fox & Tom Fry

 

http://www.flickr.com/search/show/?q=tom+f...=27568818%40N00

 

I already archived the Klave Page for the ages here, will serve as a fine start for next year.

 

http://ranger-bob.net/Bow%20Klave/2000%20B...hing%20Page.htm

[Jim Fox]

I got another message from Rose Fry today. Tom's memorial service will be held on Monday, Dec 31, at 1:00 pm at Leyden's Funeral Home (17 Ave and 2 St SW, Calgary).

 

Jim

 

Tom was a true gentleman. He will be missed.

 

Michael

Indeed, Michael... I think we need to step up and organize that 'Bow River Drainage Klave ][' in his honor next year at the spot he hosted on the banks of the Bow River back in 2000. That truly was a memorable Klave for many reasons. I know we had talked about it for years too, so time to get er done. A pontoon float from Calgary down to Carlsand. Let's make it happen!

 

Pics posted here:

 

Jim Fox & Tom Fry

 

http://www.flickr.com/search/show/?q=tom+f...=27568818%40N00

 

I already archived the Klave Page for the ages here, will serve as a fine start for next year.

 

http://ranger-bob.net/Bow%20Klave/2000%20B...hing%20Page.htm

 

[RangerBob]

Thanks for the update Jim. I was planning to go out ice-fishing that day.. but plans can change (and ice-fishing plain sucks).

 

So, I will likely see you in Calgary for the service that day. If any one else is interested in driving down with me, just private message me.

 

I know when I last spoke with Tom on the phone he was really looking forward to his Saltwater trip after getting the news.

 

--

 

From the Flyfish@ Listserver:

 

-----Original Message-----

From: Fly Fishing Digest [mailto:FLYFISH@LSV.UKY.EDU] On Behalf Of

softhackle@COMCAST.NET

Sent: Thursday, December 27, 2007 8:48 AM

To: FLYFISH@LSV.UKY.EDU

Subject: Re: Tom Fry

 

Saddened to read about Tom.

I used to enjoy his pith & insight.

Was this 'out of the blue' or was he battling something like cancer??

SH

 

Here is one of the last e-mails I got from Tom. I responded to this e-mail,

but did not get a reply.

 

Hi Jerry. I have been off-list for a bit over a month - I just sent them a

note saying I was going NOMAIL for medical reasons. A bit of an

understatement, but accurate I guess.

 

It's been a bit different this year around the Fry household. I was

diagnosed with peritoneal cancer at the end of October, and am now enjoying

(?) chemotherapy. Actually, the meeting with my assigned team of specialists

was impressive, and I felt better than any time since I got "the word". I

suspect I'll be folding Confluentus - even if I have a full recovery, I was

planning to retire in about 4 years anyway, so it might work out better to

not return to work. However, that depends on how everything goes. If I'm

better, and feeling well, I might take another short consulting assignment -

Lord knows, enough offers have been coming in since colleagues found out I

was sick.

 

The calls and e-mails have been impressive - you forget how many people you

know after a while, but it turns out they all remember whatever it was I did

for them back in 1976 or so. I am indeed grateful that they remember that.

 

I've been out on a weekend pass between rounds of chemo, so I've been tying

big saltwater sized poppers and chuggers - pre-formed foam heads, body/ tail

of my choice. I still plan to try for dorado/dolphin or sailfish in Mexico

this winter, maybe even a few snook, even if a bit later than we normally

go.

 

Merry Christmas, Happy Chanukah, and other appropriate season's greetings!

 

Tom Fry

Confluentus Management Inc.

403-807-2615

 

-------------------------------------------------------------------------

 

Date: Sat, 3 Nov 2007 16:23:10 -0600

Reply-To: Fly Fishing Digest

Sender: Fly Fishing Digest

From: "Tom Fry, Confluentus Management Inc."

MIME-version: 1.0

Content-Type: text/plain; charset="US-ASCII"

Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit

 

Going NOMAIL for a while for medical reasons; updates later.

 

Thomas A. (Tom) Fry

Consulting Principal

Confluentus Management Inc.

(403)807-2615

 

http://members.shaw.ca/confluentus

[RangerBob]

Bev and I will be driving down to Calgary on Monday and picking up Tony Blake in Red Deer on the way. I have room for one more in my KIA for anyone wishing to attend the service.

 

--

 

Obituary and Guestbook Posted today in Calgary Herald:

 

http://www.legacy.com/can-calgary/Obituari...sonID=100296812

 

Thomas Fry FRY _ Thomas Alan "Tom" 1953 - 2007 Mr. Thomas "Tom" Fry of

Calgary passed away on December 26, 2007 at the age of 54 years. He is

survived by his loving wife Rose; three children, Cynthia Fry, Amanda

(Darcy) Billingsley and Alexander Fry and fiancee Danielle Muschett. He is

also survived by one sister Kathleen Fry and two brothers, Doug (Donna) Fry

and Brian Fry; his mother-in-law Anje van Wieren; one brother-in-law Ben

(Darlene) van Wieren; and one sister-in-law Jeanette (Dirk) Kalma; several

aunts, uncles and cousins in both Canada and Holland. Funeral Services will

be held at LEYDEN'S FUNERAL HOME (Chapel of Remembrance 17 Avenue and 2

Street S.W.) on Monday, December 31, 2007 at 1:00 p.m. Interment to follow

at Eden Brook Memorial Gardens (17 Avenue and Lower Springbank Road S.W.).

Condolences may be forwarded by visiting www.leydens.com . Arrangements

entrusted to LEYDEN'S FUNERAL HOME, RECEPTION and CREMATION CENTRE.

Telephone: 228-4422. www.leydens.com .

[RangerBob]

I just spoke with Joye Lutz, (Wally's wife) on the phone and they had not heard the news yet. Joy has indicated that Wally would be attending, and may drive into Edmonton and take the extra spot. Will keep you posted when I hear back from him this evening, or maybe we'll have multiple vehicles on the road then. Will see what travel plans develop.

[RangerBob]

Just got off the phone with Wally after speaking for an hour, unfortunately he is unable to attend due to prior commitments. The remaining seat is open to Mikey D at the moment now whom is trying to arrange a work shift around it on Monday. That is all for now, except that I just had to call Alberta Al's cell to leave a voice message (he is down in Jasper right now).. so likely hasn't heard the news yet.

 

All I gotta say dudes... is.. give yer fishing buddy a hug the next time yer on the stream together. This really sucks (hurts)! Yah, it may look Brokeback.. but you'll feel better in the end. <NPI>

[RangerBob]

Here is the Eulogy I delivered for my friend Tom on Monday. Without a doubt, the hardest thing I ever had to write and deliver in my life. Thanks Mikey D, Jim Fox, and Tony Blake for coming along to support.

 

http://ranger-bob.net/Tom_Eulogy.pdf

 

Some more pics added to my updated blog entry here as well here, including the card passed out at the service.

 

http://ranger-bob.net/?p=873