REMEMBERING CAPT. AL

Half a lifetime ago, I spent a few evenings crabbing along the North Rip with Capt. Al Anderson aboard Prowler [“Spring Tides,” Spring 2018, “Between Fish”]. He could be salty! I remember a trip he helped me set up with my nephew, an 8-year-old my brother had just adopted from Russia. We did a winter striper trip on the Thames River in Connecticut. Al was touched by my nephew’s story of spending his formative years in a godawful orphanage.

I saw a different side of the captain that day: a soft man with endless patience, the kind teacher determined to step up like a man and show this kid that life wasn’t always going to be as difficult as he had experienced.

My nephew still talks about that trip. It is, indeed, amazing what a few floppy fish can do for your spirit and soul.

Jamie Mathews via Facebook

I was sorry to hear of Capt. Al’s passing upon reading your article. I had the opportunity