Mel Krieger Memorial Celebration - Nov 2, Sunday

[Bill Kiene semi-retired]

David Armocido and I are driving to the Golden Gate Casting and Angling Club in San Francisco today for the services for Mel from 3:00pm till 6:00pm.

http://ggacc.org/p/ViewEvent.aspx?eid=214

[Bill Kiene semi-retired]

Mel Krieger Memorial Celebration

Sunday November 2

3:00 PM - 6:00 PM

We will hold a special memorial celebration for Mel Krieger at the Angler's Lodge.

Mel Krieger passed away peacefully in his sleep shortly after his 80th birthday. A long time resident of San Francisco, born in Wisconsin, he is survived by his wife of 51 years Fanny, his daughter Sharon, her children, Anika and Daniel and his son Jan, his children, Kale and Hannah.

Mel was an avid fisherman and discovered his passion for fly fishing at the Golden Gate Angling & Casting Club where he remained an active member for over 40 years. He became a renown fly casting instructor, teaching clinics all over the world. He was a pillar in the fly fishing community and was considered one of the foremost and innovative instructors.

Mel was the recipient of the 1999 FFF Ambassador Award, the 2005 FFF Lifetime Achievement Award and in 2006, the highest award in fly fishing, The FFF Lapis Lazuli Ring. The Federation has also established the Mel Krieger Fly Casting Instructors Award in his honor to recognize outstanding contributions to casting instruction and to the FFF Casting Instructor Certification Program that he originated.

Mel, a NCCFFF Hall of Fly Fishing Fame inductee, was highly innovative and originated both the very successful “Federation of Fly Fishers Fly Casting Instructor Certification Program" and the “FFF Guide’s Association.” The Board of Directors of the Federation of Fly Fishers has recently established a committee to pursue Mel’s dream of a FFF Fly Fishing Academy.

He wrote The Essence of Flycasting and produced 4 DVDs on flycasting and flyfishing which have been translated into several languages. He tirelessy and freely devoted his time to events like the annual Mel’s Day teaching event at the Golden Gate Angling Casting Club that drew hundreds of people to the club to participate in his extraordinary teaching events. Mel made friends in every corner of the world, where he shared his passion and enthusiasm for life. He was particularly involved in fly fishing in Argentina and with schools and an Argentinean Mel Krieger Foundation that supports fly fishing education for children.

His love of life, his charisma, his connection to people and love of teaching will be remembered fondly by all who knew him.