In Memory of John Starinchuck

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John Starinchuck, a member of the Rabun Chapter of Trout Unlimited, recently passed away. I would like to share this tribute to John, written by his son, Justin.

Pat Hopton
Rabun Chapter Prez
www.rabuntu.org



My dad, John Starinchuck, died two nights ago. His lungs just couldn’t get enough oxygen in due to a lifetime of smoking; and he died in his sleep. This end came on relatively quickly, starting around Christmas time, so he really didn’t have much debilitation time. I talked to him last week so I have no real regrets over not being there to say goodbye at the end. We both knew what we meant to each other, and the husk or shell in the bed was not “him” so I choose to not keep that memory.

Dad never wanted to live with tubes and wires hanging out of him, or having other people wipe his behind for him. Unfortunately, he did miss his goal of trout fishing for another 10 years then having a heart attack while hauling in a huge trout and falling face first into a secluded mountain stream, destined to quickly become some sort of Orvis flavored and “Woolly Bugger” fly patterned grizzly bear scat on the stream bank. Cremation and scattering will have to do. Yes, I KNOW you need a permit to scatter ashes in a state park, but who will know the difference.. a lil handful of ashes, a quick fake sneeze to blow it out into the breeze, and done with it... this way he will always be in the burble of the water and the wind through the trees.

In lieu of flowers (he couldn’t stand them), I think he would have appreciated contributions to the Rabun Chapter of Trout Unlimited. Better yet, take someone fishing and appreciate the glorious world we live in. Or even call someone important in your life, and let them know how much they mean to you, now, when they can hear it.

Thinking of Dad and his habitual comment of “isn’t this the greatest place?” each time I saw him really had more to do with whom you are with, rather than where your butt is seated. His passing does remind me that life, like most trout fishing, is largely catch and release.

He will be missed.

Justin