In Memory of Stanley Sopranovich

It is with profound sadness that we report the passing, in his 92nd year, on Aug 5 of one of, if not the first, active fly fisher to join the Hamilton and Area Fly Fishers and Tyers, Stan Sopranovich. Stan was also a member of Izaak Walton for many years. 

 

An avid pursuer of Atlantic salmon, Salmo Salar-the Leaper, you could spot Stan in his vintage Ford Country Squire station wagon sporting SALAR on his license plate. Stan had compiled a massive collection of classic Atlantic salmon flies, stored in a 3-ring binder, which exceeded 1,000 specimens in the last year of his life. It will be donated to one of several museums in Atlantic Canada as per Stan’s wishes. 

 

Well before Tesla introduced self-driving vehicles, Stan’s station wagon could have self-navigated to his much-loved Matane river on the Gaspe peninsula in “Qweebeck” (as Stan pronounced it) from muscle memory alone, it had made that many trips. Those of us lucky enough to have spent time with Stan were regaled by his tale of landing a 31 lb Atlantic salmon from his favourite river. Mounted it had a place of honour in his house and went with him to his retirement in Macassa Lodge, Hamilton.

 

For many of you that attended meetings of HAFFT, Stan is most remembered for producing a stimulating brew that he called coffee. Contrary to rumour, NASA is not looking for the recipe to keep the flight crew for Mars expeditions awake the entire trip.

 

Stanley will be missed.