Hero of the Hudson
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- May
- 14
Today, the Editorial Page carries an appreciation of Bob Gabrielson Sr., who died Monday at age 79.
Late yesterday, I talked with Alex Matthiessen, Hudson River Riverkeeper and president of Riverkeeper. Gabrielson was part of Riverkeeper from the get-go, and was on the Board of Directors.
Mattiessen noted that Gabrielson, a man who almost singlehandedly carried on the tradition of commercial fishing in the Lower Hudson Valley, was an example of the cost of environmental damage that’s been hurting the Hudson for decades. A Riverkeeper study showed declining numbers in 10 out of 13 signature species in the Hudson, including the shad. That fallout “forced the guys out of business,” he said of the commercial fishermen who used to make a living plying the Hudson. “Bob was no exception.”
At left, here’s a photo that tells of that tradition:The 1999 file photo from Journal News staff photographer Vincent DiSalvio shows three generations of Gabrielsons — from left, Bob Gabrielson Sr., 17 year-old Eric Gabrielson and Bob Gabrielson Jr. — fishing the Hudson River for Blue Claw crabs.
Matthiessen also said about Gabrielson:
Bob was one of a kind. He was, truth be told, last of a dying breed. … He’s a hero of the Hudson. … we’ll miss him greatly.
This entry was posted
on Thursday, May 14th, 2009 at 9:28 am by Nancy Cutler.
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