posted 08-12-2013 10:28 PM ET (US)            

I never had the opportunity to meet Tony, but we spoke several times a few years ago when I was planning a trip to Sonoma to attend a wedding. He offered a ride on Strike 3 if I could find the time, but our schedules didn't allow us to meet up in person. I could tell what a good guy he was in the few times we spoke.

posted 08-12-2013 10:32 PM ET (US)            

I will miss the colourfull way he could effectively communicate his point of view and kept some of the members continually on their toes.

posted 08-12-2013 11:43 PM ET (US)            

Rest in peace, Tony.

posted 08-13-2013 12:50 AM ET (US)            

Dave

posted 08-13-2013 01:07 AM ET (US)            

I don't know who was running the boat Sunday, but this really strikes home how temporal all of this is.

posted 08-13-2013 09:05 AM ET (US)            

Thanks for posting this. I was just thinking the other day that I have not seen Tony post in a while. I was missing his posts I guess and his great photography.

So, very sad to sit here and read this news. He was a great guy and someone who I always enjoyed. I will carry his memory with me as I head out next week for our Salmon run.

Rest in peace Tony.

Warren Thanks for posting those photos. They were great to see. This one says it all:

posted 08-13-2013 09:28 AM ET (US)            

Strike Three is an example. He just jumped in and made it happen.

posted 08-13-2013 09:40 AM ET (US)            

Damn.

Tony with the only guy I ever met who could talk more than Tony, the late Sal DiMercurio in front of Sal's house in 2006:

http://s22.photobucket.com/user/elaelap/media/TomSal033.jpg.html

I miss those guys.

posted 08-13-2013 10:59 AM ET (US)            

I had always hoped to meet Tony in person one of these days.

posted 08-13-2013 11:21 AM ET (US)         

The world is a lesser place today.

posted 08-13-2013 11:39 AM ET (US)            

I will toast you with a pale ale tonight and miss you forever.

posted 08-13-2013 12:42 PM ET (US)            

We were just outside the surf line mooching in the outrage 18, tried calling on ch 11.

Tony helped me a great deal on a lot of my questions although we never met live or even spoke to each other. I'm kicking mysef for not getting closer and hailing him in person.

posted 08-13-2013 01:33 PM ET (US)            

The picture of Tony on his 15 in the mist is a great shot - perhaps should be in a Whaler calendar. My favorite Tony pics are of his 18 high and dry on the mud flats of SPB - I gave him a hard time about that in jest. Sadly, our schedules never aligned to have him out sturgeon fishing...

Definitely Pale Ales on the boat next run out...

posted 08-13-2013 01:39 PM ET (US)            

As you guys can see from my pictures, Tony covered a lot of territory. It has been a blast following Tony around and I'm glad I had the opportunity to get some great pictures of him in action. :-)

posted 08-13-2013 05:22 PM ET (US)            

Sad news indeed. Thanks for letting us know. i will keep his family in my prayers.

posted 08-13-2013 06:17 PM ET (US)            

May you Rest In Peace Tony.I for one, have ALWAYS enjoyed your post and sense of humor.I'm so saddened to hear this news.Prayers to his family and friends.

posted 08-13-2013 08:36 PM ET (US)            

RIP Tony, my condolences to your family, you will be missed, but certainly not forgotten!

posted 08-13-2013 09:02 PM ET (US)            

You have to page down about 3/4 the way for a couple pictures of Tony. Tony sure did enjoy fishing didn't he!
http://continuouswave.com/ubb/Forum1/HTML/013489.html

posted 08-13-2013 10:31 PM ET (US)            

He found my very nice Alert 17, went out of his way to check it out for me, then spent at least an hour on the phone with me, while on vacation in Hawaii, talking about it. It's one of the best classic Montauks around and I have it because of him.

I sensed something was amiss. Deeply saddened that I was right.

posted 08-14-2013 12:49 AM ET (US)            

I'm sorry he's gone. I'm even more sorry that he had so little time.

Goodbye Tony and good riddance. I think you'd expect that from me and I know you'd understand :).

posted 08-14-2013 05:57 AM ET (US)            

http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c86/erik069/Tony%20Visit/ TonyVisit005Large.jpg

http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c86/erik069/Tony%20Visit/ TonyVisit040Large.jpg

http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c86/erik069/Rendezvous%20Biesbosch/ Biesbosche073Large.jpg

http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c86/erik069/Paris/ParisErikRia019.jpg

posted 08-14-2013 06:34 AM ET (US)         

RIP Tony bless you and your family.

posted 08-14-2013 07:41 AM ET (US)            

Fair winds and calm seas...

posted 08-14-2013 12:32 PM ET (US)            

Personally, I'll miss Tony's posts of his travels that always included incredible photos backed up with great commentary. They always made me feel a little warmer on our harsh winter days.

Thank you Tony and RIP.

posted 08-14-2013 02:04 PM ET (US)            

I met Tony only days after I made the very impulse buy of loolee 3 from a dealer we both knew in common I rrmember clearly some of thenpersonal touches Tony gave the boat he had a nautical chart of bodega bay waters laminated and attached to the console. That was Tony's passion...and much of mine to this day

He introduced me to this website and many great friends I will have for life he is very well known by every party boat captain in Bodega Bay's fishing village he was everyones friend without exception

I am proud to have been his friend and fishing pall. Many times he would drive the boat while matt and I dove. He was a fully licensed six pac captain and helped George on the "SANDY ANN" often

It doesnt surprise me how much love there is here for Tony

He left a larger than life impression on all who met him

posted 08-14-2013 02:31 PM ET (US)            

Had noticed a while back that Tony had not been participating here for some time and was wondering if something had happened.

posted 08-14-2013 04:35 PM ET (US)            

About five years ago my wife and I traveled to San Francisco to dive with great white sharks at the Farallon Islands. The first day the trip weathered out due to high seas. I had talked with Tony several times on the phone after "meeting" him here at CW. We were set to go on a tour of Bodega with Tony when we had to cancel so that we could make another run out to the Farallons. High seas stopped us half way, and we returned to SF Bay, missing our visit with the landlord, and too late to rendezvous with Tony at Bodega Bay.

What struck me most about Tony (aside from a very deep, warm DJ telephone voice) was his willingness to meet complete strangers and welcome them aboard his boat at the drop of a hat. He was very gracious, willing to change his plans to accomodate a fellow Whaler fanatic he only knew from a few years of internet posts.

After selling my Menemsha, I haven't posted much at CW. Whaler folks don't care much about the adventures of a MAKO boat!

I still check in at least every week to see what's going on at CW. I had wondered why we had not seen any posts from him, I figured he was on another adventure, Hawaii, Europe, New Zealand,etc...

When I saw this thread I was looking forward to "catching up with an old (internet)friend" not eulogizing him. Turns out Tony is on another adventure. Too bad he won't be posting pics and commentary on CW.

posted 08-15-2013 10:01 PM ET (US)            

Just got back from a week vacation and saw this.

I got to go boating with Tony and Edie in Bodega Bay and visited them in Windsor and once with them up here in Juneau, Alaska last summer.

http://continuouswave.com/ubb/Forum1/HTML/021653.html

http://continuouswave.com/ubb/Forum1/HTML/020803.html

http://continuouswave.com/ubb/Forum1/HTML/021621.html

What a friend, what a gentleman, I'm very sad to see him go.

Fair winds and following seas my friend.

posted 08-16-2013 02:10 AM ET (US)            

Everybody dies, but not everybody lives. Tony lived. I wish he had lived longer. I'm glad he lived well, and I'm grateful for having known him.

posted 08-16-2013 03:45 AM ET (US)            

His subdued tone lately gave me hint of dire subjects.
As we all be in due time
Take a moment of silence in respect for this Tarry Friend that will speak to me no more..
Except in memories and recollection of times that were fun to have him around..
Fare well and see you later..I am sure.
My sincere and hearth felt condolences to Mrs Wilde in this time of mourning.

Fair Winds..

posted 08-16-2013 09:29 AM ET (US)            

Matt-I think we should try to have a gathering in some fashon in Bodega great idea!

I am in

posted 08-16-2013 10:28 PM ET (US)         

Philosophically, I agreed with Tony on a lot of topics, but not all, but it would be difficult to find someone with more conviction personally and professionally.

posted 08-18-2013 05:39 AM ET (US)            

I am so sad to see such a great member and boating cyber-friend pass.

posted 08-18-2013 10:04 AM ET (US)         

It is quite saddening to come here today and learn of his passing - His postings and musings on this forum will be sorely missed. My deepest sympathies to his family and friends that knew and loved him so well. A prayer for peace of heart, mind and soul to be comforted in the cherished memories that he leaves you (and us here) all with.

posted 08-18-2013 12:37 PM ET (US)            

Tim Conroy

posted 08-19-2013 11:21 AM ET (US)            

RIP, Tony, RIP...

posted 08-23-2013 08:35 PM ET (US)            

A few years ago, a good flying buddy that I see only twice a year removed a tape measure from his pocket and told me to hold the "smart" end while he pulled out what he called the "dumb" end, and pull it out to about 85 inches.

Did that.

Then he asked me to place my finger on my age (60+). Walt said that 85 represented the normal life expectancy of a white male, then he got down real low, and while squinting up that little yellow metal line, bore sighted me and asked what was I gonna do with the rest of it.

When I hear of news like Tony, I think about Walt's story.

posted 08-28-2013 03:04 AM ET (US)            

Good bye Tony,

posted 08-31-2013 11:28 AM ET (US)            

He went out of his way to inspect boats that were in his area and would immediately call me up and tell me all about what he saw. He was an experienced boater with a critical eye.

One boat he went and looked at was not as clean as it appeared in the ad. It was neglected and Tony was critical of the owner and how he cared for the boat. We were both disappointed with the boat.

Still, he encouraged me to consider buying it. Tony, always trying to find the good side of things, reasoned that I might be able to strike a great deal on it and then fix it up. He offered his advice on how to leverage the poor care the boat had received to a lower purchase price. He provided me with a long list of nits to use in negotiations.

But at the end of the conversation, Tony gently told me that if I talked with the owner, I was not to mention his name; he didn't want the owner pissed off at him because he was hoping the guy would accept his invitation to go fishing with him the following week!

That was Tony: he loved everybody and always relished the opportunity to make new friends and he always based his friendships on common interests, never politics, appearances or socioeconomic status.

posted 09-01-2013 02:02 PM ET (US)            

quote:

---

He went out of his way to inspect boats that were in his area and would immediately call me up and tell me all about what he saw. He was an experienced boater with a critical eye.

One boat he went and looked at was not as clean as it appeared in the ad. It was neglected and Tony was critical of the owner and how he cared for the boat. We were both disappointed with the boat.

---

Tony's skill and reputation of sizing up a used Whaler carried HUGE sway with me, when he found and inspected my Alert 17 (law enforcement Montauk). When he told me he liked it so much, he nearly bought it out from under me, and then asked me for first right of refusal if I ever wanted to sell it, I knew I had found my boat. And then he spent an hour on the phone with me while on his vacation in Hawaii, talking about it. Class act, putting others first, and he never let our divergent political beliefs color our interaction one little bit when it came to Whalers.

posted 09-01-2013 07:42 PM ET (US)            

We only went out together once, in my Whaler, and while he was showing me the spots and the ropes for Lingcod fishing, I was providing the chum (ugh). So, though we only live(d) ten miles apart, most of our interactions were at the rendezvous, both in Bodega and the S.F. Bay. I trolled for Salmon next to him, but never with him, something I regret. Unlike some of the members on this forum, Tony and I shared most political and social views. I will miss him and his larger than life personality.

Thanks, Tom, for the info, looking forward to hoisting a beer with you and the others in a month.

posted 09-28-2013 11:27 PM ET (US)            

Tony and I fell into the same lines in many topics (except my dislike for things made in China, for which he shredded me gently). When I was looking for my 18 Outrage, he tried to get me to consider one in a shop up his way, but the logistics were tough. He visited the boat, sent many photos and details.

We were invited to visit his home several times.

So so sad about this. He had character, generosity, a wealth of knowledge across a broad spectrum of topics and a kind heart.

For the rest of us, this is the reminder life is short and it changes on a dime. Our similarities are greater than our differences. Do what you have longed to do.