<img align="left" src="http://www.fish-hawk.net/photogallery/a ... owoody.jpg"> <font size="3"><b>A Tribute to Serge Lapointe (aka TitoWoody)</b></font><br>
This week our community regretably lost a fellow angler.....and friend. Serge Laponte was an active member of Fish-Hawk.Net and a friend to many of us. We'd like to express our sincere condolences to his family. Please feel free to pay tribute to his life and accomplishments.
Photo compliments of Joco....thanks.
Tribute to Serge Lapointe (TitoWoody)
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Bobber
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Tribute to Serge Lapointe (TitoWoody)
Last edited by Bobber on Fri Dec 14, 2007 11:31 pm, edited 8 times in total.
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Bobber
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While I did not know Serge personally, I can tell from the many responses here that he was a great lad, loved by many, with a passon for life, fishing, and other water sports.
Being an active member of our Hawk Talk community, TitoWoody joined us in July 2007. His humor and helpfulness contributed to some great discussion. We will surely miss his "YAK"ing and camraderie on the site.
God Bless Serge, peace be with you.
For Serge's family, please accept our condolences during this time, and know that Serge will be missed by all.
<b>For those in the area of Brantford....as mentioned by Steve Hamilton
Funeral Services will be held on....
Saturday, December 1
2pm-4pm and 7pm-9pm
Dennis Toll Funeral Home
55 Charring Cross Street
Brantford Ontario </b>
I have taken the liberty of incorporating the responses that we've received to date from other posts into this tribute. While the dates may not line up with the time of actions, I wanted to make sure that we captured all the wonderful things people have expressed, and be able to share that with others.
Being an active member of our Hawk Talk community, TitoWoody joined us in July 2007. His humor and helpfulness contributed to some great discussion. We will surely miss his "YAK"ing and camraderie on the site.
God Bless Serge, peace be with you.
For Serge's family, please accept our condolences during this time, and know that Serge will be missed by all.
<b>For those in the area of Brantford....as mentioned by Steve Hamilton
Funeral Services will be held on....
Saturday, December 1
2pm-4pm and 7pm-9pm
Dennis Toll Funeral Home
55 Charring Cross Street
Brantford Ontario </b>
I have taken the liberty of incorporating the responses that we've received to date from other posts into this tribute. While the dates may not line up with the time of actions, I wanted to make sure that we captured all the wonderful things people have expressed, and be able to share that with others.
Rob Atkinson
Site Admin (retired)
Site Admin (retired)
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steve-hamilton
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Tribute to Serge Laponte (TitoWoody)
As it has been reported, our fishing community lost a valuable member this morning/last night.
I'd just like to clear up some confusion, so that his name is not slandered.
I was out this morning, helping out the search and rescue team, in my boat. There were three or four other pleasure craft assisting in the search....Our friend was close to many of us. Serge, or Tito Woody as he is known online, was a kayaking instructor who has over 20 years kayaking experience on big water...including the Ocean.
The waves pictured in Cliffs thread about waves was the North Shore. As many of you probably know, if the North shore is getting pounded, the South Shore is calm. It was.
Serge launched around 2pm in favourable offshore winds. There was no weather warnings about any possible snow squalls. Many on this board, including myself, would feel very comfortable with that forcast.
Serge made it 20 km's towards his fishing destination, Jordan Harbour. (This was 20k's down shore, NOT off shore) He was witnessed fishing infront of the Jordan outflow around 3:30 in the afternoon, before snow storm, by shore anglers. He was not spotted after that.
His body was found just West of Jordan Harbour.
Please, lets all learn from this. But Serge was not some lunatic who intended to put anyone else's safety at risk. I'd like to thank our Search and Rescue teams for their undaunting work last night and this morning. The lake was still rough and rolling this morning. We all got off the water soaking wet, frozen, and devistated. They treated us with respect, and shared in our loss. Not a single rescue officer asked "why" Serge went out, or that they were "upset" for putting their safety at risk....They were great. Myself and the rest of Serge's friends and family owe a huge thanks for the effort the Search and Rescue team made finding Serge.
Lets all learn from this.
No matter HOW experienced we are, the Great Lakes are a dangerous beast. Respect the water. Keep all safety devices onboard when fishing the Great Lakes in the winter. I'm not talking the necessary safety stuff for boaters, i'm talking fully charged VHF's, GPS's, and CELL PHONES!
Talk it easy everyone.
Rest in Peace Serge. Your going to be missed!
Steve
I'd just like to clear up some confusion, so that his name is not slandered.
I was out this morning, helping out the search and rescue team, in my boat. There were three or four other pleasure craft assisting in the search....Our friend was close to many of us. Serge, or Tito Woody as he is known online, was a kayaking instructor who has over 20 years kayaking experience on big water...including the Ocean.
The waves pictured in Cliffs thread about waves was the North Shore. As many of you probably know, if the North shore is getting pounded, the South Shore is calm. It was.
Serge launched around 2pm in favourable offshore winds. There was no weather warnings about any possible snow squalls. Many on this board, including myself, would feel very comfortable with that forcast.
Serge made it 20 km's towards his fishing destination, Jordan Harbour. (This was 20k's down shore, NOT off shore) He was witnessed fishing infront of the Jordan outflow around 3:30 in the afternoon, before snow storm, by shore anglers. He was not spotted after that.
His body was found just West of Jordan Harbour.
Please, lets all learn from this. But Serge was not some lunatic who intended to put anyone else's safety at risk. I'd like to thank our Search and Rescue teams for their undaunting work last night and this morning. The lake was still rough and rolling this morning. We all got off the water soaking wet, frozen, and devistated. They treated us with respect, and shared in our loss. Not a single rescue officer asked "why" Serge went out, or that they were "upset" for putting their safety at risk....They were great. Myself and the rest of Serge's friends and family owe a huge thanks for the effort the Search and Rescue team made finding Serge.
Lets all learn from this.
No matter HOW experienced we are, the Great Lakes are a dangerous beast. Respect the water. Keep all safety devices onboard when fishing the Great Lakes in the winter. I'm not talking the necessary safety stuff for boaters, i'm talking fully charged VHF's, GPS's, and CELL PHONES!
Talk it easy everyone.
Rest in Peace Serge. Your going to be missed!
Steve
Last edited by steve-hamilton on Wed Nov 28, 2007 5:46 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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slushpuppy
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just can t imagine this.
you will be miss.
prayer for all the familly.
http://www.thestar.com/News/Ontario/article/280675
almost only 48h ago he post some fishing tread in here..
..man we just never no. 
joco
Last edited by joco on Thu Nov 29, 2007 8:20 am, edited 1 time in total.
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almontefisher
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What a sad thing to happen...Steve, I have a question but I am not implying anything by it...Was this guy experienced with a kayak to be going out in weather like that??? My thoughts are with his family and friends and Steve good for you for taking the time off work to help search, it makes you a good person for doing that.
hi almontfisher.
you say..Was this guy experienced with a kayak to be going out in weather like thaT ?????
this is hard to answer..........why.
i dont think we have answer...its a personal choice.
and there was suposely a freak incident a big skall and some 80km wind.
tons and tons off guy in this kind off wind in the oceans in kayak.
but the water is not as cold as it was there where he was.etc.
i do no what you meen..
but me to wen in my kayak last weekend and probably would go again if i had a suit.
accident happen.this is one off them.very sad one to.
.
everyone have there opinion on that accident .
mine is.........the guy love kayaking and was a hard core at it. and it was is life.......start a little web site for kayak fishing off is own.etc.
he did what he loved.
some pict off him...wife kids dog.and is life sport/kayak..
http://s74.photobucket.com/albums/i244/ ... ?start=all
joco
you say..Was this guy experienced with a kayak to be going out in weather like thaT ?????
this is hard to answer..........why.
i dont think we have answer...its a personal choice.
and there was suposely a freak incident a big skall and some 80km wind.
tons and tons off guy in this kind off wind in the oceans in kayak.
but the water is not as cold as it was there where he was.etc.
i do no what you meen..
but me to wen in my kayak last weekend and probably would go again if i had a suit.
accident happen.this is one off them.very sad one to.
.everyone have there opinion on that accident .
mine is.........the guy love kayaking and was a hard core at it. and it was is life.......start a little web site for kayak fishing off is own.etc.
he did what he loved.
some pict off him...wife kids dog.and is life sport/kayak..
http://s74.photobucket.com/albums/i244/ ... ?start=all
joco
Last edited by joco on Wed Nov 28, 2007 6:26 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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steve-hamilton
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joco is correct.
he was VERY experienced. tito was an instructor of sorts.
he made it 20 km's to his fishing destination.
the offshore wind was safe.
it was the snow squalls w/ 90km winds that unfortunately caused the problem.
if the squalls didn't occur (which only lasted maybe 20 minutes), he would be fine.....
i would have went fishing in the same conditions....instead it could have been me, and you would be questioning if i have any experience.
he was VERY experienced. tito was an instructor of sorts.
he made it 20 km's to his fishing destination.
the offshore wind was safe.
it was the snow squalls w/ 90km winds that unfortunately caused the problem.
if the squalls didn't occur (which only lasted maybe 20 minutes), he would be fine.....
i would have went fishing in the same conditions....instead it could have been me, and you would be questioning if i have any experience.
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troutnmuskiehunter
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