OUTDOORS: Remembering the multi-talented Wayne Brewer

I surpassed the rod to Wayne Brewer and stated, “It’s your flip to reel. I’m bored with catching all of the fish.” We have been flat-lining off the end of Montauk and catching a mess of stripers. As I recall, he jumped to the charter boat’s stern and, with a great deal of enthusiasm, introduced in a nice striper.

That unique ride became a spontaneous adventure that turned into prepared in a lodge parking zone. Wayne Brewer and I have had some spur-of-the-moment get-togethers.

The Montauk journey started at a New York State Outdoor Writers Association conference held in Auburn 10 years ago. Three or 4 of us said goodbye after the sports were over, while Joel Lucks from Long Island cautioned we fish for blues and striped bass at Montauk. Brewer and I right away raised our fingers — and the trip changed into the book. We stated sure before we even packed our vehicles for the journey home.

That changed into my first trip with Wayne. It would no longer be my ultimate. We have fished together on Seneca and Cayuga lakes and trolled for trout and salmon on Lake Ontario.

Our ultimate day trip collectively took place on Cayuga Lake in June, where four outdoor writers reeled in fish while remembering all our beyond adventures. We were fishing with Constitution Captain Jim Morgan. We all shared inside the suitable instances that day … and fish. The laughs were actual and abundant.

Donald “Wayne” Brewer, sixty-nine, passed away unexpectedly, however peacefully, on Tuesday (February 12, 2019) at Geneva General Hospital.

For those of you who neglected the obituary that was published in this newspaper a week ago, right here is part of it:

“The family will receive pals from four to 7 p.m. On Thursday (March 7) at Covert Funeral Home, 7199 South Main Street in Ovid. A Memorial Service can be held at Ovid Federated Church at 10 a.m. On Friday (March eight), a reception will follow at the South Seneca Sportsman’s Club. Personal internment might be held at Ovid Union Cemetery at the convenience of the circle of relatives.

“Wayne is survived by his wife of 40 years, Linda, and his kids Christie Marie Brewer of Hayes Corners, Donald T. Brewer of Fairfield County, and Douglas W. Brewer of Seneca Falls; his siblings Roger (Kathy) Brewer of Romulus, Pam Armitage of Hayes Corners and Martin (Lisa) Brewer of Ovid; and his nieces and nephews Billy, Donna, Scott, Kelly, Kerry, Sarah, Matthew, and the beloved own family dog, ‘Mia.’

“From a young age, Wayne and his family have been deeply concerned about 4-H. The early life lessons he discovered as a member of 4-H affected his existence and profession. Instead of vegetation, kindly recall a donation in Wayne’s reminiscence to Seneca County four-H, positioned at 308 Main Street Shop Centre in Waterloo.

“Wayne was born in Geneva, New York, on September 4, 1949, the eldest infant of the late Donald J. And Rose M. (Travis) Brewer. He changed into a small-city farm boy from Ovid, New York. His dad and mom had been 2d-era farmers who instilled a sturdy work ethic and excessive ethical character in their four children. These middle values stimulated Wayne’s sizable instructional and expert achievements. Upon graduation from Interlaken High School, he earned his A.A.S. in Natural Resources from SUNY Morrisville, later triumphing alums of the 12 months in 1997. He then entered Cornell University, where he earned a B.S. In Wildlife Science. He subsequently enrolled at the University of Connecticut and earned an M.S. In Zoology. In 1994, Wayne attended the FBI National Academy in Quantico, Virginia, graduating with a perfect grade point.

“It becomes throughout his adolescence that Wayne developed a deep love for the outside, flora, fauna, and nature. He turned happiest on foot through the woods, identifying and following animal tracks, scoping out ‘that elusive huge buck,’ or fishing within the Finger Lakes Region. His love for the outdoors and passion for flora and fauna turned into contagious, and it knowledgeable his environmental profession alternatives. Early on, he decided he ought to make good-sized contributions to protecting and renovating wildlife and herbal habitats by becoming an Environmental Conservation Officer. Simultaneously, the physical necessities for an ECO included a minimum peak of five feet 9 inches.

He became employed as an ECO on June 28, 1973, after which he was relieved of duty five days later because he became one sector inch too quickly. Wayne became undeterred, and for two months, he engaged in a disciplined plan to stretch his body by hanging upside down each day. He added a one-zone inch to his top, and in September of 1973, he was reinstated and appointed to the position of ECO of Seneca County. Little did anybody recognize at the time how that zone-inch of height would outline Wayne’s profession. He hastily ascended the ranks at the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation and, at 31, became the youngest person promoted to Captain in the employer’s history. When he retired after 25 years of public service, Wayne had completed the rank of Colonel. He served as the Director of the NYS Environmental Conservation Police, supervising a body of workers of 340 environmental law enforcement professionals across DEC’s nine regions.”

After he retired, Wayne returned to his favorite county, Seneca County, fulfilling a promise he made to come home and serve his community. He worked as a Seneca County welfare fraud investigator and element-time deputy several years earlier than serving for a year as Seneca County undersheriff. Writing and teaching have been the defining traits of his second career, however.

He became a prolific freelance outside writer with endless articles published in local and regional newspapers, statewide and national environmental magazines, and exchange journals.

Wayne turned into a proud member of the NYSOWA and served as the organization’s beyond the president. He has also become the Outdoor Writers Association of America and the Association of Great Lakes Outdoor Writers.

Outdoor writer Bill Hilts Jr. Remembered Wayne fondly.

“Wayne Brewer becomes an amusing-loving man that you may rely on,” Hilts said. “As a law enforcement officer, he was the consummate ECO for DEC. Quickly growing via the ranks with his passion, desire, and painting ethic, he finally became the ‘top cop’ in New York.

“He delivered that same mindset to the NYSOWA. Whether it changed into his paintings as president (his period ended with the remaining year) or serving on one of the group’s committees, he turned into a take-fee type of guy with the most effective and satisfactory intentions. Ethically, there wasn’t a better guy. This is not to mention he didn’t revel in life and the outdoors to its fullest.

“His sense of humor became infectious, and he cherished to stir the pot amongst his friends. He may also take a comic story with the nice of them. His writing turned into something he labored hard at, doing his satisfactorily to enhance his craft. To see how ways he had traveled in his writing journey … he currently won a prestigious NYSOWA Excellence in Craft Award (what insiders seek advice from as a ‘Donald,’ a wonderfully carved decoy by professional carver Bill Suitor of Youngstown, N.Y.

“Most of all, Wayne became a good pal and a laugh. I became lucky to fish several instances with him, which always changed into a satisfaction to proportion a boat and many laughs. We will, without a doubt, miss hi,m.”

Leo Maloney, every other outdoor writing colleague, echoed lots of the one’s sentiments.

“When someone first met Wayne Brewer, they have been usually struck by his friendly nature and humorousness,” Maloney said. “That influence might not be incorrect because he had a superb humorousness, enjoyed life, and shared a limitless supply of testimonies on the lighter aspect. Quite frequently, the funny story of the testimonies turned into on him. Wayne became a wonderful storyteller and will entertain a target audience for hours with his teens’ testimonies, his adveDEC career adventures, and a series of colorful characters he related to.

“But underlying his fun-loving nature, he became a severe, devoted expert who cared deeply about the outside, his profession in law enforcement, and the project of the DEC Environmental Conservation Officers. He worked hard to carry out this role and establish an excellent code of ethics for outdoor sports and flora and fauna. This same dedication carried over to his writing career and commitment to doing the high-quality process possible in his newspaper or mag articles. He served the NYS Outdoor Writers’ Association with an an equal sense of difficult paintings and a nice effort in the DEC Law Enforcement roles.

Whether it becomes a problem with DEC operations or funny incidents in the sporting international, he may want to spend long hours across the fire or on the fishing boat, skipping breakfast.”