Bill at the Y Pool circa 2012
Bill Ricardi, a Swift River regular and one of the nicest people that you could ever meet, passed away on Sunday, January 23, 2022 at the age of 84.
Just under that crusty exterior was a man with a heart of gold who would share his fishing knowledge with anyone who asked and whose laugh could be heard from the Y Pool to Cady Lane. It will be hard to imagine that river without Bill.
Kapinos-Maur Funeral Home is handling the arrangements. Visiting hours will be Wednesday February 2nd from 8:30 to 9:30am.
Ken
11 comments:
Bill was a real good fly fisherman. Must have seen him hundreds of times on Swift and in years past the Farmington. He was always one of the top sticks. RIP
Ken you describe Bill perfect what a great gentleman. He will be missed.
I have only been fly fishing for 6 years. I have run into Bill several times and he was always funny and helpful. I remember once sliding into the river near Bill (probably a little too close) and promptly caught a fish. Bill said to my "what the heck did you do that for?" He then said "if you catch a fish right away, you will ruin your luck the rest of the day".
I will miss running into him on the Swift.
First George "Wooley Bugger" Cunningham and now old Bill. They are from a generation that's sadly leaving us now. They lived to fish the local rivers and didn't need a "bucket list" river to feel good about it. When you fish 300 days a year you must be enjoying it!!
Ken
I am so sorry to hear that. It always made me happy seeing Bill on the river. I will miss him.
I have to say George and Bill are a reason my son and I are avid fly fisherman today. When my son was 8 years old (He's 18 now) we ran into both George and Bill at different times. Their generosity of information on what to fish, how to fish and several handfuls of flies given out over the years are why we both love the fly fishing community of Western MA. Both Great Statemen of our waterways. RIP Bill, you and George can have the place to yourselves now!.
Very sad to see this. I remember fishing next to him and shooting the breeze several times over the years. Thank you for the memories and a life well lived Bill!
Very sad news. It was always a pleasure to run in to him on the river and find out what was working. No one had a laugh like his and it always reminded me that I was there to have fun.
John
'How-ah-ya'
That was the greeting from Bill every time we crossed paths. We would then lament about the Red Sox or Patriots depending on season. More times than not, Tim C and I would see Bill down in Cady Lane...just the 3 of us with no one else in sight.
A good man...
In the winter of 2007 or 2008 an inadvertent hatchery release resulted in significant schools of smaller rainbow trout stretched from Cady Lane to the Pipe. It was then I first encountered Bill. He gave me a foam toothpick-anchored strike indicator and showed me how to rig the thread midges he was using with very satisfactory results.
His kindness kick-started my understanding on how to fish the Swift, for which I am forever grateful. Subsequent encounters often included tips, intel, gentle ribs, and occasional criticisms, all punctuated by his full hearted laugh. I will miss seeing Bill’s hooded silhouette though in spirit the Master remains.
My condolences to his wife and family and many friends.
Bob O,
I remember that rainbow release and Bill describing it as "clouds of rainbows" milling around.
We will all miss him.
Ken
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