Seneca Valley Trout Unlimited

Sudden Passing of Dick Switalski

We were recently notified by Kathy Switalski, Dick Switalski’s wife, that Dick died suddenly last Friday, May 28.  He had just finished working out at his health club and was swimming laps when he suddenly disappeared below the surface.  Lifeguards removed Dick from the pool to perform CPR and use a defibrillator but he was not able to be revived.  A subsequent coroner’s exam ruled that Dick had suffered a heart attack, and, apparently, gasping for breath, had drowned.

Dick Switalski - the morning he & Charles left the Strauss Center in Claryville , NY. 

Charles & Dick had spent the previous 4 days fishing Catskill area streams in late May 2010.

Dick was a longtime, active member of SVTU and was currently in his 2nd year as a chapter board member.  For friends and members who participated in our winter fly tying sessions, you’ll note that Dick served as the intermediate/advanced group’s guru one evening.  Dick could get you excited about catching trout even before you finished tying a fly - a great teacher!  He had recently completed a fishing trip with Charles August, SVTU Secretary, in the Catskills (NY).  In fact, at our May 26th chapter meeting, Dick gave a wonderful presentation on fishing the Catskills.  Even at 70 years of age, his enthusiasm for TU and all things fly fishing just oozed from Dick anytime you were around him.  Many chapter members would rank him as the #1 fishing buddy you could ever have.  Those same folks knew that if you were serious about planning a fishing trip to anywhere in the area, or the U.S. for that matter, Dick was your man.  Recently, Dick had also been an integral part of the chapter’s planning efforts for the upcoming June 19th BBQ.  Consequently, Dick would not have been in attendance, since he was scheduled to be in Las Vegas with his wife to celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary.

The family requests that in lieu of flowers, contributions be made to the Seneca Valley Chapter 369, of Trout Unlimited.  The family’s address is 16700 Gooseneck Terrace, Olney MD  20832-2458.

There will be a church ceremony for Dick on Wednesday, June 9, 2:00 PM, at the Oakdale Emery United Methodist Church, 3425 Emery Church Rd, Olney, MD.