Honoring canoe expert and conservationist Ralph Frese
12 Dec
Ralph Frese, courtesy Chicago Tribune
We knew Ralph Frese as “Mr. Canoe.”
The paddling community is remembering Ralph Frese, as he passed away on December 10, at age 86. Some of us knew him as the owner of the Chicagoland Canoe Base shop at Irving and Narragansett, he designed beautiful watercraft for all types of canoeists – from 30 foot historical re-creations to fiberglass canoes. Some of us knew him as an advocate for paddling and the founder of the Illinois Paddling Council — an active voice for Chicago area river trails.
“He was interested in the environment and in keeping people at home in Illinois,” his wife said. “We have so many beautiful rivers and streams, people could paddle here for months at a time and not paddle the same area twice.” quote courtesy http://www.chicagotribune.com
A section of the Chicago River has been designated as “The Ralph Frese River Trail” by the Forest Preserve district of Cook County.
Read more in the Chicago Sun-Times >
