Photo credit: Rafe Hanson
On October 30th, our fleet lost a champion. Tad did not return from a hunting trip near Sitka and was found the next day deceased.
There are no words to capture the depth of our loss.
Tad was brilliant. He was also humble and kind. He could solve any problem and would drop everything to help a friend. He committed hours to research and data analysis, but took every opportunity to express gratitude to anyone else who worked for our fleet or helped in any way. Tad was an active ALFA member, always jumping in to help at every event. He was on the board of the Alaska Sustainable Fisheries Trust and board chair of the Seafood Producers Cooperative. He gave freely of his time, expertise and incredible facility with numbers and data. No one can fill the hole he has left in our community.
Tad loved to hunt, fish and prepare wild foods, and he freely shared all that he had. He frequently stopped by or called to discuss a new idea or fact check something he had heard or read. His keen insights added to every discussion and led to better decisions. Sitka will never be the same without Tad. He was the best of people and always an inspiration.
Above all, Tad was devoted to his family—his wife Sara and his two daughters Alexandra and Mari Francis. His pride in his family shone in everything he said and did. They will carry his bright legacy forward, but our collective loss is deep.