Captain John Visich

Rest In Peace - February 15, 2008

January and February 2008

January...Sad news to start the new year: One of our top charter captains will probably never be seen again on the waters off the Oak or on Lake Erie...however, memories of him will always be here. Capt. John Visich ("Release Charters") is valiantly fighting a losing battle with pancreatic cancer. Our hearts are heavy, but also filled with respect and admiration. Everyone respects an angler, charter or rec, who always tries to help his peers. All our captains agree on this...especially through the years when "Release" was usually the first boat out of port and Capt. John gave everyone a heads up on surface and down temp. He always shared his honeyholes and hot lures...and last, but not least, he had many very happy clients.

As a footnote, recently Capt. Howard Zeitlan told us that 'screwface' is one of the favorite stripper spoons for him and several other captains working the waters off Nags Head NC. As many of you will remember, 'screwface' was Johnny Release's favorite offshore spoon and it's his own design.

John, if you read this, remember that we and many others have been thinking of you and praying for you since learning of your illness last fall.

Capt. John Visich
(Photo courtesy Capt. Bob Stevens)

E-mail received on 2/16/08: "Joe and Shirley...John passed away last night at about 11:00. Thank you for the pictures and beautiful tribute on the site. Please keep his friends and family in your prayers. God Bless...Quentin (FishinFool), Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio"

An appropriate quote from Capt. Bob Stevens: "It's hard to put into words how much Johnny meant to every one that knew him. We will all miss him on the water...Release, Release, Release..."

Added on 2/17/08...Barberton, Ohio - John P. Visich, 58, born and raised in Barberton, passed from this life on Friday, February 15, 2008.

He was a Vietnam War veteran. John owned and operated the Release Charter Service, spending most of his time on Lake Ontario and Lake Erie and was an active member of the Barberton VFW Post 1066.

John was preceded in death by his parents, Paul and Elsie Visich; and sister, Paula Miller; survived by sisters, Jeanne (Fred) Zimmer and Margaret Fraser; brother, Michael (Elaine) Visich; and many nieces, nephews, cousins and good friends.

Visitation will be held Tuesday 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. at the Campfield-Hickman-Collier Funeral Home, 566 W. Park Avenue, Barberton 44203, with rosary recited at 8:30 p.m. by Fr. Robert Jackson.

In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to Autumnwood Nursing and Rehab, 275 E. Sunset Drive, Rittman, Ohio 44270 or Barberton VFW Post 1066, 75 6th St. N.W., Barberton, Ohio 44203.

(Campfield-Hickman-Collier, 330-745-3161)

Published in the Akron Beacon Journal from 2/17/2008 - 2/18/2008.

Click Here to view John's obituary and to view or sign his guestbook.

E-mail received on 2/18/08: "Joe and Shirley, Johnny V is going to be sorely missed. Maybe this year the lake level will not go down as much, with all of the fish that he took out (ha, ha).  Thinking of all the good memories...Your friend, Capt. Chas"