There will be a Celebration of Life for Gil Santos on November 2nd at 2:00 pm at the Santa Cruz Elks Lodge and all of Gil’s friends are encouraged to attend.
A remembrance by Tim Loomis
On October 3, 2024, we lost Gil Santos, who passed away peacefully at home from natural causes. Gil was 90 years young, and instead of mourning his passing, I’d like to celebrate a life well-lived. Gil truly did it all. If you ever saw him at a club meeting or in public, you’d notice he was always impeccably dressed, as though pressed and ironed just before leaving home. He was, as they say, “flat-out debonair” – the Cary Grant of fly fishing. Along with his polished appearance, Gil was a true gentleman and a fabulous fly fisherman.
According to Ernie Kinzli, our club’s first president, Gil joined in the 1993-1994 season. Ernie and Norm Bedell, our former club treasurer, were classmates in their younger years, so we’re lucky to still have a few founding members with us. Gil, born in 1934, had a life full of adventures, hunting, and fly fishing – a journey we can only imagine.
My first memory fishing with Gil was at Pyramid Lake around 2004 or 2005. I’d just arrived and happened to place my ladder next to his. On one of my first casts, I hooked and landed a fish. Gil had been in the water for almost five hours without a bite, yet instead of being frustrated, he cheered me on, celebrating my catch. Later, when I ventured over to his trailer, which he shared with Ed Marcel and a guy from the East Coast named Alan, Gil gave me some good-natured ribbing for “invading his territory,” followed by, “So, what fly were you using?” From that moment on, I was privileged, as many of you were, to fish with Gil across the country.
Gil loved sharing his knowledge and wisdom about fly fishing with anyone who asked. He also had a special feel for the history of our community. One of my favorite things about fishing with Gil was listening to his stories of growing up in and around Santa Cruz. He was truly a treasure.
And finally as a testament to his love of Santa Cruz and fishing, Gil’s family has generously donated $1,000 to the scholarships that our club gives to local seniors pursuing careers in conservation.
Rest in peace, Gil Santos. You will be missed.
Posted on October 30th, 2024