An Irishman Passes

[wanderingrichard]

Some sad news regarding our fellow member Kevin McHugh, aka, Tinker.

Kevin passed October 21st from complications of ocular cancer after a very long and protracted fight.

I'm hoping other members of this site who knew him far better than I did will chime in and help fill in the details. I knew him as a warm friendly and self depreciating man who wasn't about to give up.

His loss....... hurts

 

[Paige]

RIP Kevin, prayers for family and friends.

 

[krusty]

Very sorry to hear of his passing. ☹

 

[VMP]

Several of us here are also members at northwestkayakanglers, where this sad news was posted. Tinker was not that active here, but he was one of the old timers and most active members at NWKA, dishing out adviice, funny stories and generous help to other members. I am very sorry to hear about Tinker's death. I never met him in person, however we corresponded a few times on NWKA, on this site and via personal messages. I enjoyed his good-natured way of interacting and contributing to this and other fora he was part of. He was indeed very generous, years ago I tried to buy an older model TFO fly rod he put for sale at NWKA and although initially he was not sure about selling it to me given my planned use for it (he thought it was too soft for salmon), he relented and made me promise to send him pictures of whatever I caught with it, which I did several times and we banter back and forth. When he mailed the fly rod to me, he actually included an unexpected new fly reel and fly line just because he was such a generous guy.

Tinker was a fantastic story teller. His funny self-deprecating and often fishless stories about his adventures chasing steelhead, salmon, pilings and logs always drew much needed laughter. Some of his stories below, along with the NWKA thread with more context and tributes.

RIP Tinker/Kevin, you will be missed!

The passing of a member of our Kayak family

The passing of a member of our Kayak family

www.northwestkayakanglers.com

Me and Salmon

Me and Salmon

www.northwestkayakanglers.com

Giving One Away

Giving One Away

www.northwestkayakanglers.com

NKI - Shucks!

NKI - Shucks!

www.northwestkayakanglers.com

 

[Vagabond]

Man…..sorry I missed this. Class act. Connected with him late August early September regarding a rod he sold on here. Compared notes on different locations we both had visited and enjoyed all of it. Bummer.
He really enjoyed the outdoors and cherished his time in nature.