Once there, Max DeVaney introduced John to commercial fishing and he acquired the Cliger shortly after that. He fished for salmon, halibut, tanner and king crab in Cook Inlet, where he found he had a knack for catching critters from the briny deep. In the spring of 1988, John went to work for Drew Scalzi on the F/V Anna Lane, and in time became Drew's right hand man. John ran the Anna Lane for Drew as his health failed and continued after Drew passed. He also trolled for king salmon and skippered the winning boat twice in the Homer Winter King Salmon Derby.

But he didn't work all the time. He snowmachined for several years on the one of a kind YamaDoo -- a hybrid of a Yamaha and SkiDoo. He was an avid sports fisherman, catching king salmon on the Anchor River and Deep Creek, and steelhead and silvers on Stariski Creek. He also enjoyed deer hunting on Shuyak Island, and moose hunting on the Kenai Peninsula.

John also kept a garden, pickled fish, smoked salmon, dug clams and always shared his bounty with friends. He had the most wonderful hearty laugh. All of John's family and friends can attest that he was the most honest and loyal person they ever met.

He is survived by three brothers; James and his wife Betty of Stuart, Fla.; Andrew and his wife Nancy of Houston; David and his wife Beverly of Granite Bay, Calif.; and a sister, Jane Low of Fort Collins, Colo. He is also survived by 11 nieces and nephews and 16 grandnieces and grandnephews.

A celebration of John's life will be held in Homer on Aug. 22, 2009.