Well, I guess I'll kick off the Popsy page with my memories of him. I met him back in the PIONEER II days, and no matter how good the fishing was, once he started cooking, it was all over. The food always came with a joke or story, and no matter how many times he told the same one, he was pretty good at telling them. My favorite was the Korean War story with him humping supplies up some the hill, barely making it, and some little Korean guy about forty pounds running past him and smiling with twice as much on his back. As far as fishing went, he always seemed to catch when no one else was catching, and by the end of the day you knew he'd have a pretty good catch. You'd forget he was there and then there he was in his stance; feet apart, straining like he was pulling the plug on the ocean, turning the handle like it was ready to fall off the reel, and laughing all the way I think the fish had pictures of him down there.

Once Andy got the new boat, I'd always find room for him on my charters. The guys who came aboard would always make sure he was there. On one trip, the flounders were biting their heads off and we had a load of them. It was getting toward the end of the day and even Popsy was tired of catching them. He said he would stop when his bait was gone, but he kept fishing, with the same piece of worm that he was using for an hour. He couldn't beat the fish off his hook. Andy wrapped up the day and when Popsy unhooked his last fish, the bait was still there. By that time it looked like spit, and I think he put it in his pocket for the next trip. The guy could catch; no doubt about it; and most times he was catching, not fishing.

Even when the PIONEER was on dry dock, we made a few trips, either with Stevie on the Skylarker, or on our last trip, fishing on the Teal for ling last spring. There was no way I'd fall asleep behind the wheel because he never shut up from the time he got in the car till we reached the boat. But he was great company and it seemed like everyone knew him no matter where we went. That was probably the best tribute to him. He was a great guy and everyone will remember him for that. I think about him a lot, along with my Dad, and an old salt named Ernie. They were great fishermen, and even greater men. I know they're probably fishing wherever they are, at least I hope so because that's what they loved to do most. I just hope they save a few for us when we get there.

Cheers, Popsy and thanks for all the good times.

I can remember a charter on the PIONEER II when Popsy was doing the cooking. It was the Steve "Fluffy" Darago birthday charter for bass. Popsy was cooking that day and Linda (Fluffy's wife) was serving everyone while they were fishing. Every time Popsy turned around Linda would be taking some food and giving it to someone. So Popsy says to Linda, "You eat like an animal", not knowing she was serving everyone. He had a unique sense of humor and an art of making everyone laugh. He is missed beyond imagination.

We first met Popsy on the old PALACE II out of Hoboken. We knew him as Frank and not Popsy. As a matter of fact, we called a lot of people by different names than they are called today. We called Brian by his real name and not "Bubba". There was also Michael and not "The Plug". It was before the OJ Simpson trial so we were known as the Tada's and not "The Judge and Mrs. Judge". Ken's "October" streak was still in the distant future. Captain Andy was just Andy and Mikey "Beers" was too young to drink legally.

We often brought our neighbor's son, Craig, along with us on our fishing trips. Popsy liked kids and took to him immediately. On each trip when we arrived at the fishing grounds, Popsy would give Craig a penny and instructed him to throw it into the water for good luck. To this day, we don't know if Craig believed him but he never took a chance and always threw in the penny.

At that time Bill Frye was the cook on the PALACE II. Popsy and Bill became friends and would often fish together. At the end of the day, you would find Popsy helping Bill cleaning up the galley. Popsy and Bill were like the Odd Couple. Bill was an old salt and his vocabulary contained a lot words that we don't want to mention. It always seemed like Bill was always yelling at someone. In reality, Bill's bark was a lot worst than his bite. Popsy, on the other hand, was a gentleman and always watched what he said especially in mixed company.

There was this angler, who shall remain nameless in case he is reading this story, who seemed to gravitate toward Popsy and Bill. He would always try to fish next to them and on several occasions was able to fish between them. Unfortunately for them, this angler was a novice and would never watch where his line was going. He would tangle his line with either Popsy or Bill and at times with both of them. Bill would get disgusted and let everyone know about it but Popsy would always be calm and let it roll off his back.

We will miss Popsy and are sure he has reunited with his old friend, Bill. They are fishing again together but if Bill has anything to say about it, they aren't waiting around for that novice fisherman from the PALACE.