It is with great sadness that we note the passing of Dave “Pops” Masch. Dave is known to readers of On The Water magazine as the writer of the Ask Pops and Cooking The Catch columns and as the author of two “Cooking The Catch” cookbooks.
Originally from Detroit, Dave came to Massachusetts to attend Harvard College and fell in love with the sea. He worked as a cook and counselor for 29 years at the Penikese Island School, where he described his role as a “professional father figure” and acquired the nickname “Pops,” which he carried over into his On The Water columns.
Dave was an incredible man of many interests, talents and accomplishments. He will be missed by many. Our thoughts go out to his family and friends.
We will be planning a full tribute for an upcoming issue of On The Water, including words from OTW readers. If you’d like to share your thoughts, please do so in the comments below or email us at feedback@onthewater.com.
1/8/2013: A “remembrance” from Jay Allison of the Cape and Islands NPR Station.
[…] RIP Dave "Pops" Masch Thoughts and prayers to his family and friends. Dave “Pops” Masch: “Feared by fish, loved by many.” […]
Dave was one of the most interesting people I have ever met and a heck of a lot of fun to be around. We've got a big hole in our hearts and our pages here at OTW…
Sorry to hear the sad news Neal. Best wishes to you and my OTW friends.
so sorry for your loss
Thanks Mike
Pops was an educator of both young and old. I loved reading his columns, and had the pleasure of chatting with him several years ago. He was as genuine and outgoing in person as he came across in his writing. I will certainly miss his columns.
An iconic figure for sure in the pages of OTW and the hearts of its readers. His words and widsom will be missed.
I can't believe it Angelo! Loved reading his article. I know I'm not alone. If you didn't know what you caught, pops would enlighten you. He will be missed.
Rip . Thank you for the many years of enjoyment .
Fish on!
Pops, Loved your column, love the books and appreciate your care for the fish and the food. My wife and I will miss you but will try to carry on your tradition. Thank you and happy trails.
Thanks and best wishes to your family and those who shared you with us.
RIP POPS, our love and thoughts to your family.
Tight lines Dave. You were both talented and big hearted.
Dave certainly drove us crazy at times but he was a unique character and one of a kind, wasn't he? I know he will be missed by many and OTW will be diminished without him.
Yes the world is definitely a little less colorful w/o him.
Dave possessed tremendous humility as genuine and nice as a person could possibly be.
What a brilliant man was he.
A great loss.I always enjoyed his columns in OTW. Rest in peace.
A great loss.I always enjoyed his columns in OTW. Rest in peace.
A great loss.I always enjoyed his columns in OTW. Rest in peace.
A great loss.I always enjoyed his columns in OTW. Rest in peace.
RIP Pops! You were the first column I always read with each new issue. Thanks for all you did.
sully
HIs column was the first page I’d turn to in every single issue.
Thoughts and prayers to “Pops'” family, friends and OTW..A true loss. I recently purchased Pop’s new book at the 2012 striperfest, and he was a complete joy to joke and converse with. His dedicated enthusiasm to cooking the catch was unfounded and Pops will surely be missed as well as his columns. We all now owe it to Pops to catch em’ and “Cook the Catch” w/ one of his many intriguing recipies. Enjoy the many new recipies you may contrive w/ the “Big Guy” Pops….Always!….C
Never met Pops but felt I knew him through the years of reading his columns. He taught me to appreciate what swam in these waters and for that I’m very thankful.
Although I never met Pop’s in person, his columns have been a must-read in my household every month for as long as I can remember. He will be sorely missed…
-JDS-
I loved reading anything that Pop’s wrote as well as watching him on OTW TV. He was real, passionate and humble. You could tell that he was smart as heck but he would never talk down or seem to be “telling” you how to do something. I try to expose my children to all the wonders of the shore…clamming, crabbing, fishing, lobstering, etc and Pop’s was an inspiration. I always felt that he was a friend that I haven’t yet met.
Love to open up his book and see all the different things he cooked, he would anything weird .
A creative mind that will be missed
RIP
I allways looked forward to his columns.Very sad to hear this.I believe he did mention in the last issue that something was going on with his health.
I allways looked forward to his columns.Very sad to hear this.I believe he did mention in the last issue that something was going on with his health.
God bless Pop’s, our prayers and thoughts are with him and his family. I am quite sure he is cooking up some some delicious fish on the other side of the pearly gates.
Pops you were the greatist I loved your columns especially ASK POPS you always had the answers. You will be sorely missed . R.I.P. Brother.
Always went right to the Q&A and cooking the catch when I opened my new OTW issue each month. You'll be missed Pops.
Say it isn’t so Pops!!
The fisrt things that I looked for each month were your ASK POPS and COOKING THE CATCH. After 45+++ years of fishing & sailing these waters, I had thought that I had run out of things to learn….You showed me otherwise.
I always read and reread your articles and book. You are a brother to every “man of fish”. May you have fair winds and following seas, and endless
fishing with your son and Seth… God speed to you.and God bless your family.
Mark Pulcini
Pops…great column by a class act!
His colums were my favorite reading and informative. I will miss that part of the magazine. Will someone try to fill the void?
I skipped pages just to get to your column. I had the pleasure to meet you at the striper cup last year, your legacy lives on…respectfully joe coppinger, falmouth, mendon, mass
Upsetting to hear this I loved your column "Ask Pops" first section I would flip to when I got the on the water magazine, had the experience to have my question answered in his column ask pops good information, thanks may you R.I.P and my condolences to your family !
I bought his first book catching your catch, will think of him every time i open it. My condolence to his family.
No one will ever fill those shoes! Pops is an amazing person. I never met him but you can tell everyone loved everything about Pops. Sorry to see him go, his legacy will live forever, Thanks for sharing it with all of us.
I just forwarded some of Pops enlightenment THIS WEEK, and, used one of his recipes. I'll continue to do so.
OTW will never be the same. We will all miss you. RIP POPS. Thanks for all your great stories and contributions.
Dave (pops) Masch was a very knowledgeable guy. He always had an answer to my many questions. He will be trully missed by many generations.
So sad to read this news, RIP pops you will be missed. I hope the young lion is ready because he has some big shoes to fill.
R.I.P. Pops, you'll be sorely missed.
I enjoyed reading his articles in On The Water magizine and got to meet him at last years Striperfest. I got to chat with him there and bought both his cookbooks which he signed. I am thankful to have met him and to have the signed books. I will enjoy cooking the catch using his recipes for many years to come. R.I.P Pops, you will surely be missed.
Dave’s passing is our loss. But heaven’s gain. He’ll be able to trade recipes with The Head Chef. God Bless and condolences to his family.
This is indeed tragic news. My condolences to his family and may God Bless Him. The fish might feel a bit safer but this news upsets me. I loved not only what he wrote for OTW but how he wrote it. You knew you were getting the perspective of someone who had decades and decades of experience about fishing and seafood cooking. It will be hard to look at an issue of OTW and not see his 2 columns. Just 2 huge gaping holes that used to be filled with his knowledge, recipies, humor, and drawings.
As a former Penikese Island Student I got to spend quite a bit of time with Pops. Some of it was Fishing as well as Kitchen duty with him on the Island. Ohh the small things I learned from him & the stories he told are Priceless. His ability to give advice or solve or find a solution to many different things is unbelievable. I hope to some other former students at his memorial service on January 26th in Woods Hole.
1 of many Penikese Students…
I never met the man, but I felt like he was a good friend. Pops, from the first issue of On the Water that I bought on the news stand you were the best excuse to take out a subscription. Whatever your best days were I hope you have an eternity filled with them.
Like many, I am very sorry for the lost of “POPS” I always read his column and checked out his recipies every month, I will miss him.. I assumed the Lord needed another good man in Heaven, for the ocean in paradise is where I beleive , on the shore ” POPS ‘ to be, where the water is awash with love and where no storm can be, for the Lord in His wisdom would have it no other way, so I pray ” POPS ‘ is happy in the Hands of the Greatest Fisherman , that called “POPS ‘ to stay.
I have been waiting for this info to become public, but it never came out. So I called George today and he said:
For David “Pops” Masch
An informal memorial service will be held Saturday Jan 26 @ 2:00 pm at the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, Quissett Campus, Clark Lab top floor.
DAMN! Pop you will be missed. Love you Amanda Masch-Jacobs and Mariah Jacobs.
We were so fortunate 2 years ago to spend an incredible hour with Mr. Masch in Providence at the fishing show. He had planned to give us a cooking demonstration, but the local fire laws prevented that, so he sat with us, answering questions and speaking to us about fish and his love of the sea. It was a magic time that we will never forget, now more poignant since his passing. Our sincere condolences to his family, we have all lost a true hero. Sincerely, Jeanne Verity and Don Hughes, Smithfield, RI
The first articles I would read when I recieved my monthly O.T.W. would be “Ask Pops” and “Cooking the catch” I like many others will miss that..He seemed a genuinely nice man that will be missed by all that knew him, and read his articles.
Dave was one of the most intelligent men I have known. Years age I would meet him for early season striper and bluefish fishing off Scraggy Neck. He would recite Shelley and Yeats as he was teaching me to read the water. A true Renaissance man. A lot of my cooking prowess comes from his books. He gave us so much more than his vast knowledge of the ocean.
DAVE, I CAN’T BELIEVE YOU HAVE GONE WITHOUT WARNING.A LADY FRIEND OF MINE SAYS, IF YOU BELIEVE IN THE AFTERLIFE, THEN DAVE IS IN SPIRIT, HEALED AND HEALTHY, READY TO HELP YOU, WHEN YOU NEED HIM,FROM THE OTHER SIDE. SO EVEN IF YOU CAN’T FISH WITH PREDATOR PHIL AND I, ANYMORE, YOU WILL ALWAYS BE WITH US IN SPIRIT. OH AND IF WE NEED SOME ADVICE WHILE OUT ON THE WATER,WE KNOW YOU WILL BE THERE TO HELP. YOU WILL ALWAYS BE WITH US, NO MATTER WHAT. YOU WILL NEVER BE FORGOTTEN. MISS YOU BROTHER
Two days before reading about his passing I opened a gift from a friend and it was vol. 2 of Cooking the Catch. It is personally signed, as the person who gave it to me just happen to run into Dave at a coffee shop in Falmouth, sitting with a couple books. I never had that pleasure, but from what I read, he was quite a character and much liked and loved by those lucky to have known him. I certainly enjoyed reading his columns in On The Water.
I am very sad to hear of “Pop’s” passing. The first two colums I would read upon receiving my OTW magazine were “Ask Pops” and Cooking the Catch. Always looking for delicious new recipes. My wife and I have cooking many dishes from his cook book. Two of our many favorites are “Vickie’s White Clam Sauce and “Oven Fried Fillets.” I just ordered his second cook book. My deepest condolences to his family. Pops you will be deeply missed!
First meet Dave (Pops) in 1978 when I was not much older than his students at Penikese. He stuck in my mind through many of the stories he shared back then. When I realised about 5 years ago it was him writing for OTW I was hooked on his columns. I believe there are many good men out there as a result of his work. RIP Tight Lines and Fair Winds on your next journey.
Pops always wrote as if he were in the room with you, telling stories, sharing joys, providing tutorials, and guiding your cooking. I regret that I never met him in person, but I will continue to benefit from his experience and wisdom through his books. Thanks Pops. We will miss you!
Thankfully I had the opportunity to meet “Pops” at the last Striper Fest. The words of wisdom that he shared with all of us will be his opus.I like many of my fellow readers went to his column first in every issue. Dave may you have following seas and fair winds into your next adventure.We are all better because of you..Thank-you
Pops’ columns were exactly the type of stuff that I appreciate about OTW. Reading his articles always made me think of sitting by the woodstove or on the porch enjoying a good cup of coffee and the company of a good friend.
The baby, and only brother, of the family…..we are missing him and will, but we know we will meet again. Love goes out to Jeanne, Amanda, Mariah, and extended loving family and friends.
pops you will be missed i read your article to the grand children after fishing we would pick a favorite dish .RIP pops and thank you for everything bless you and your family.
Pops inspired me to cook fish!
My deepest condolences to his family.
I have no doubt he is cooking sup’ah up on high.
First met David in 1971 in Woods Hold & knew then what a special person he was….reconnected a few years ago & it was like the years had not passed without seeing him. He brought such joy to so many people. Peace & Love, David…..I'll never forget you.
sorry for ur loss !! ^i^
So Sorry silly
First met David in 1971 in Woods Hold & knew then what a special person he was….reconnected a few years ago & it was like the years had not passed without seeing him. He brought such joy to so many people. Peace & Love, David…..I'll never forget you.
[…] splurge, a treat for guests, and it goes well with champagne. The late Dave “Pops” Masch, whom we said goodbye to in 2013, suggested in his Cooking The Catch II cookbook that New Year’s Eve is “a great […]