The recreational fishing community is mourning the loss of a true champion, Randy Fry of Auburn, CA, who died while free diving off the Mendocino coast on August 15, 2004 where he was attacked by a great white shark.

Randy was born in Tulare, CA. He attended schools in Sacramento City and San Juan school districts, graduating from La Sierra High School in Carmichael, CA. His father was President of the Sacramento Title Insurance Company until his death in 1985. Randy is survived by his son, Randy Jr., a grandaughter, Aubrey, his mother, Velora Fry, a brother, Dana Fry, and two sisters, Cheryl Clarkson and Dawn Mize.

Randy was the West Coast Regional Director of the Recreational Fishing Alliance (RFA) and known as an effective advocate for conservation and the rights of saltwater anglers. He was recognized as a leader who was willing to work with all sides on issues and who had the uncanny ability to create coalitions. He had the perfect personality for this work. He liked people, lived to fish and dive, and had a life-long love affair with the ocean and its creatures and an innate understanding of the issues and politics surrounding them.

In 2003, Randy was appointed to the Groundfish Advisory Subpanel of the Pacific Fishery Management Council (PFMC), which handles many species important to recreational anglers. Randy was also instrumental in the appointment of Darrell Ticehurst to the PFMC, the federal body which sets many saltwater fishing regulations.

His friends and fellow members of the Recreational Fishing Alliance will remember him for his tireless dedication to the interests of West Coast fisheries, anglers and divers. Randy was a great benefit to the RFA and to his fellow anglers and he was always willing to make the sacrifices necessary to represent them in an intelligent and thoughtful manner. He is sorely missed by his family, friends and colleagues. "Randy was a fun guy to be around. He was a storyteller and a jokester. He loved to fish for salmon, dive with a speargun, or go bird hunting. He was an excellent public speaker, who was not afraid to engage his adversaries, but he always tried to turn his opponents into friends," said Jim Martin, fellow RFA member and longtime friend.

Back