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In Memoriam |
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Len Rich, one of the Maritimes’ most well-known and respected outdoor writers and mentors, died April 13 after a brief but courageous battle with cancer. He was 71.
As a columnist, author, photographer, and mentor of up and coming writers, he left a profound legacy, touching the lives of many throughout the writing and fly fishing worlds. One of his greatest gifts was his capacity to see the extraordinary in the ordinary and share it with others through his columns, books and encouragement.
A prolific and award winning writer, Len was recognized by the Outdoor Writers of Canada and the New England Outdoor Writers Association for his books and articles. In 1991 he received the coveted Canada Recreational Fisheries Award from the Governor General, in recognition of “writing that influenced a generation of recreational fishers”.
Whether telling the story of his experience as the owner of a fly-in sport fishing lodge in the Labrador wilderness, teaching the fine art of fly casting or crafting a heart-felt Christmas tale, Len’s writing contains a gentle humour that reveals a love of human nature and the ability to laugh at one’s own foibles. His photographs unveiled the majesty of nature and captured the extraordinary spirits of ordinary people.
At his April 18th memorial service at Humber Springs Trout Club, fellow writer Anita Rowland paid tribute to Len’s generous and self-less contributions to his fellow writers:
“We knew Len’s generous spirit and that he loved to share what he had learned over the years. He had a true desire to see everyone develop their gifts. He had the gift not just of writing. Along with nature photography, tying flies and fly fishing, he had the remarkable ability to see potential. Potential for a story in any situation. Seeing the story that anyone’s life could tell. Potential in people to do things they didn’t think they could, how to reach beyond our existing goals. How to dream big and set about making that happen. He showed us the nuts and bolts of “how” and I’m sure that’s true for the fly fishers just as much as the budding writers. He believed so much in us and what we could achieve, that we had no choice but to believe it too.”
He authored six books, edited another and contributed to many fly fishing books published by other authors throughout North America. He also wrote hundreds of magazine articles for various national and international publications.
Visit the following websites for tributes to Len:
www.outdoorcanada.ca/every bit a gentleman www.sooutdoors.ca/casts his last line.html www.thewesternstar.com/lenrich www.orangevillebanner.com/fisherman’s lasting legacy
The following announcement appeared in newspapers and outdoor magazines following his death:
Tight Lines Dear Friend - Len Rich 1938-2009 We regret to announce the death of Leonard Frank (Len) Rich on April 13, 2009, in North Bay, ON following a brief courageous battle with cancer. He was 71. Len was born and raised in the small Upstate New York town of Whitehall. After eight years of US military service he settled in Newfoundland in 1966. His careers spanned more than four decades, from sales rep and sales manager to automotive dealer and entrepreneur in the field of tourism. His greatest passions were fly fishing and writing. As a columnist, author and advocate for responsible stewardship and a mentor of up and coming writers, he left a profound legacy, touching the lives of many throughout the writing and fly fishing worlds. Len discovered and later developed a fly-in sportfishing lodge in Labrador he named Awesome Lake Lodge. He operated that business for 10 years before semi-retirement. He authored several books, including Newfoundland Salmon Flies and how to tie them, Best of In The Woods, Fly Fishing Tips and Tactics, Rivers and Woods, So you want to be an outfitter, Memoirs of a fly fisher, Tales of Christmas (Editor), and his latest Bill Bennett: Pioneer Bush Pilot and Outfitter. He also wrote hundreds of magazine articles for various national and International publications. During his careers he was employed by the Newfoundland government as Hunting & Fishing Development Officer and by the Atlantic Salmon Federation (ASF) as manager of Special Events. Len was also employed by Corona College in Grand Falls-Windsor as Director of Communications and Tourism Training. He and his late wife Ruby developed and operated businesses in Clarenville, NL, known as Whitehall Country Inn and The Grapevine. He was predeceased by Ruby in 2004. He served three terms as President of the Labrador Outfitters Association and three terms as Eastern Director of the Outdoor Writers of Canada (OWC). An award winning writer, he was recognized by the New England Outdoor Writers Association and the Outdoor Writers of Canada for his books and articles and in 1991 received the coveted Canada Recreational Fisheries Award for “writing that influenced a generation of recreational fishers.” In 2007 he was selected to receive the OWC’s Jack Davis Mentorship Award for his work with up and coming writers. He led the OWC Mentorship Program and for a decade he hosted the Creative Writing forum on the Sympatico Internet site. Throughout his adult life he made Newfoundland his home, but recently lived in Orangeville and North Bay, ON sharing his life and love with his partner Susan Buckle. He is survived by brothers Wayne, Shrewsbury, Vermont; Keith, Hoosick, NY; sister Dawn in Massachusetts; Susan and her children Cameron and Lianne Honeyborne; sons Len Jr. (Chantal) of Lewisporte, NL and Ken of Summerside, NL; daughters Lori (Tony) of Fort Nelson, BC, and Tammy of Summerside, NL; stepson Tony Blackmore and stepdaughter Roxane Bailey (Chris) of St. John’s, NL; and grandchildren Cassidy, Alicia, Evan, Tyson, Tyler, Mallory, Morgan, Rebecca, Daniel, Kennedy, and Andrew. Funeral will be held in Clarenville, NL Saturday April 25, 2009 at Fewers Funeral Home, Clarenville NL 709-467-2468. In lieu of flowers donations can be made to the Margaree Salmon Museum, Margaree Centre, NS. B0E 1Z0 or the charity of your choice.
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In Memoriam |
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Len Rich Writer/Photographer 1938-2009 |
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40 years of writing about Canada's outdoors |
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Len Rich—An Extraordinary Man |
