The death of Richard Nelson Adams of Sillarsville, Quebec, occurred Friday, March 03, 2006 at CLSC Malauze in Matapédia, Quebec.

Born in Sillarsville, Quebec, October 13, 1910, he was the son of the late Hudson and Mina (Pratt) Adams.

Over a career that spanned more than half a century, Adams guided many famous people who came to the area to fish for Atlantic Salmon, including former US President Jimmy Carter. Adams began his life on the river as a teenager, putting in about 80 years as a guide and working on log drives.

Jack Lyons, manager of the Cold Spring camp on the Matapedia, called Adams "one of a kind" and a philosopher. He said that he was a very witty man, and never complained. Lyons said that he had visited Adams the Wednesday before his death and even then retained his positive attitude saying "It's great to be alive." That, Lyons said, was one of his favorite expressions.

Lyons said that Adams had been a wonderful source for stories about the river and the region and will be sadly missed.

Nathalie Normandeau, Quebec's Minister of Municipal and Regional Affairs, attended the funeral. She said that Adams had been one of the most celebrated ambassadors for the Gaspe region and was known internationally in salmon angling circles. She said that his fame came from his authenticity, discretion and his true nature, but particularly from his passion for his work and for the rivers. She said that Admas had always had her admiration.

Adams was inducted to the Cullman International Hall of Fame in 1898, receiving the T. B. (Happy) Fraser Award, which recognizes significant contributions to the conservation of the Atlantic salmon. The citation called Adams 'a legendary figure who has had an extraordinary relationship with Atlantic Salmon for more than 60 years (in 1998) and is the epitome of what every salmon guide should be. His decades of guiding on the Matapedia River in Quebec taught him to think like the "king of fish." He knows where their favourite pools are and what to do to make them rise to the fly."

The citation also mentioned his "chardm commitment, and endless patience" and his deep respect for the Atlantic salmon.

A large crowd was in attendance at Maher's Funeral Chapel in Campbellton on Monday. Among the pallbearers was his nephew, the internationally acclaimend author David Adams Richars, who grew up on the Miramichi and now spends winters in Toronto.

"When I wrote my fishing book, "lines on the Water", I had him in two or three scenes because of coruse he's Richard Adams, he's my uncle, he was the first person to put me in a canoe when I was about four years old." said the novelist after the funeral.

"The last salmon I got on the Little Sou'west Miramichi I was using one of his favourite flies, before I left for Toronto. So when I wrote the book, I remembered that."

Richards said that he has a lasting regret.

 "I never went fishing with my uncle. It is one of my deep, deep regrest. I tried. They had a big celegration for Richard, when my wife and I were going to bring our son up but we never got up. I had to go to Toronto, and I had to go out west and I never got back in time to do it, which is unfortunate. The biggest thing I missed is that I never fished with him. But he was a great man."

 Roy "Mac" Adams of Dalhousie, the younger brother of the famous guide, said that his brother had been very active and even working until fairly recently.

"He worked on the river until two years, a year and a half ago. A year ago April he went to the hosptal but before that he was pretty active. He worked at the Matapedia Cold Spring Club, that's above Mann's Settlement. Then of course the government owns water... he guided there a fwe times a week, and the rest of the time at Cold Spring. He divided up his time between them."

In 2004, The Tribune covered a gathering of descendants of the old pioneer families of the Restigouche held on the Kempt Road in Broadlands, Quebec. Richard was a descendant of one of the first Scottish se ttlers in the area. Despite of being 94 years of age he marched with the bagpiper the kilometre from the hall to the Kempt Road Cemetery and back again, refusing all offers of a drive.

In his book "A Century of Sport," Sylvain Gingras called Adams "the dean of salmon fishing guides."

"This master of river and forest, the epitome of man at one with nature is a rugged environment, has been interviewed on television and has been the guest and companion of millionaires. His autograph is sought by many, and his letters are jealously kept by anyone who receives them, even presidents of companies. Each of those letters is signed "Always Richard,' and for the sprotsman, that says it all!" Gingras wrote.

Adams is survived by one brother Roy McLean (Mac) Adams of Dalhousie, sister-in-law Jean (Bill) Adams of Tide Head, and several nieces and nephews. In addition to his parents, Richard was predeceased by four brothers; Charles Dow, William Roy, Lincoln Fraser and Percy, and three sisters; Elizabeth Marion, Margaret Jane and Ethel Agnes.

A funeral Service will be held from the Maher's Funeral Chapel, 64 Lansdowne St. Campbellton on Monday, March 6th at 2:00 p.m. The remains of Mr. Adams will be rest at Maher's Funeral Home, 33 Lansdowne St. Campbellton on Sunday from 2-4 and 7-9 pm.

Interment will take place in the Kempt Road Cemetery, Quebec, in the spring.

For those who wish to make a donation, they can be made to The Richard Adams Foundation, 462 St. Jacques Nord, Causapscal, Quebec, G0J 1J0 or to the Canadian Cancer society. Arrangements in the care of Maher's Funeral Home, Campbellton.

Treffle Maltais

The death of Treffle Maltais of Matapedia, Qc, occurred at the CLSC - Malauze of Matapedia on February 26, 2006, at the age of 78.

Born in Campbellton, he was the son of the late Inga Fitzgerald and the late Percy Maltais.

He will be sadly missed by his wife Margaret O'Toole Maltais of Cross Point, Qc; children Marlene Provencher (Yves) of Charlesbourg, Qc, Terry Maltais (Danielle) of Quebec, Qc. and Treffle Jr. Maltais (Ginette) of Quebec, Qc.; seven grandchildren: Brenda, Jason, Kathleen, Sharon, Stephan, Connie and Steven; sisters: Rita Good (Eldon) of Dalhousie Junction, Patsy Frenette (Reginald) of Dalhousie and Norma Jean Lapointe (late Jacques) of Rimouski, Qc; brothers Gordon Maltais (Rosaline) of Campbellton and Bernard Maltais (late Diane) of Alberta.

His parents, Inga and Percy; son James; sister Nora and brother Anedaus predeceased him.

The funeral was held from St.Thomas Aquinas Church in Campbellton on March 1st, 2006, officiated by Father William (Bill) Arseneault, with burial in Quebec in the spring. For those who wish to sign Mr. Maltais guest book, send a condolence message to the family, or have a memorial donation card placed for them should visit the web site www.salonsavoie.ca .

Holt A. Maher

The family of Holt A. Maher wish to announce his death, which occurred on Thursday, March 2, 2006 at his residence in Riverview, N.B. at the age of 90 years.

He was born on June 16, 1915 in Chatham, N.B. son of the late Theresa (Holt) and Noonan Maher.

He married the late Dorothea Ferguson in 1937 and moved to Campbellton, N.B. in 1939 where on March 20, 1939 he founded and opened Maher's Funeral Home, which he operated until its sale in 1998. In June 1940 he moved his funeral business to 21 Water St., in Campbellton where it remained until 1956 when the present building at 33 Lansdowne St. was completed. In the intervening years he purchased the former Tennier Funeral Services of Campbellton in 1942. In 1947 he purchased the former Cadman's Funeral Home in Campbellton and in 1948 he purchased the former MacDonald Funeral Home in Dalhousie, N.B. When Maher's Funeral Homes Ltd. was sold in 1998 it was operating funeral homes in Campbellton, Dalhousie, Balmoral and Val d'Amour. Following the sale he relocated to Royal Court Retirement Residence in Riverview, N.B.

Mr. Maher was very involved in many community activities throughout his years in Campbellton. He was a member of the Campbellton City Council for 6 years, served on the Board of the former Hotel Dieu Hospital in Campbellton, was Past President of the Campbellton Rotary Club, Past President of the Campbellton Curling Club, Past President of the Campbellton Board of Trade, Past President and Honourary President of the Red Cross Society in Restigouche County. He was a member of the United Commercial Travellers in Campbellton, a former member of the Restigouche Golf Club, Honourary member of the Campbellton Branch # 19 of the Royal Canadian Legion and a member of the Knights of Columbus. Mr. Maher was also a Past President of the New Brunswick Funeral Directors and Embalmers Association; he served three terms on the Board for Registration of Embalmers and Funeral Directors of New Brunswick, was a Past Chairman of the Atlantic Provinces Funeral Directors and Services Convention and was a Past President of the Funeral Directors Association of Canada.

He was honoured with a Paul Harris Fellow by the Rotary Foundation of Rotary International and was recognized by the Canadian Red Cross for his 53 blood donations.

He is survived by two daughters; Nancy Dawson of Moncton, N.B. and Wendy (Ken) Dean of Fredericton, N.B., three sons; Allan (Marie-A.) of Fredericton, Peter (Nancy) of Calgary, Alberta and Noonan of Grand Barachois, N.B., two sisters; Doris Anthes of Riverview, N.B. and Irene "Snookie" (Wilfred) Gorman of Miramichi, N.B. Also surviving are a sister-in-law Isabel Ferguson of Ottawa, Ont., a brother-in-law Ernest Ferguson of Bay du Vin, N.B., along with 19 grandchildren and 17 great-grandchildren and several nieces and nephews.

His wife Dorothea Ferguson, his parents, a brother Frank, a sister-in-law Helen Mastrianni and a brother-in-law Huntley Ferguson predeceased Mr. Maher.

His remains are resting at Maher's Funeral Home, 33 Lansdowne St., Campbellton with visiting hours on Sunday, March 5 from 2 to 4 in the afternoon and 7 to 9 in the evening. Funeral Service will be held at St. Thomas Aquinas Church in Campbellton on Monday, March 6 at 11 a.m. Interment will be in the St. Thomas Aquinas Cemetery.

Donations to the charity of your choice would be appreciated.