Richard Peter Van Gytenbeek

Pete Van Gytenbeek died on Monday February 11, 2019 surrounded by family. He was born on February 5, 1933 in Paterson, New Jersey, the son of Carrie and Rodolph Van Gytenbeek. He is survived by his wife, Elizabeth, son Richard and wife Jane Hilt, son Tony and wife Carol, daughter Kate and husband Randall Bryett and grandchildren Kyli, Carter and Jana.

Pete was raised in Ridgewood, New Jersey. He was a three sport athlete at Ridgewood High School. He went on to compete in baseball and football at Princeton University where he was a member of the Cap and Gown Club and the class of 1955.

On June 18, 1955 he married Elizabeth, entering a lifelong partnership of 64 years. Newly commissioned as a second lieutenant, Pete then began active duty in the United States Army where he served as an infantry officer eventually retiring from service to his country as a captain in the US Army Reserves.

After completing active duty, Pete and Elizabeth moved to Colorado to live and work in the shadow of the Rocky Mountains where they could raise their family and take full advantage of trout streams, duck blinds, bird habitat and ski slopes.

Pete was a true ‘Renaissance Man,’ a master of many fields of work, charming, witty, well-educated, well-mannered, athletic, and self-controlled. He was an author, a publisher and a successful business man. His true passion, however, was working on behalf of the environment as a well-respected conservationist. During his 60 years of work he ‘wore many hats’ and looked good in each:

Executive Director, American Wildlands, Bozeman, MT.

President & CEO, Federation of Fly Fishers, Livingston, MT.

Development and Marketing Director, Seadoc Society, University of California, Davis.

Principal, Fly Fishing in Salt Waters Magazine, Seattle, WA.

Principal, Business Environments, Bellevue, WA.

President, Office Futures, A Nynex Co., New York, NY.

General Manager, Contract Associates: Furniture Dealership, Albuquerque, NM.

Vice President & President, N.B.I., Boulder, CO.

Vice President, Sales & Marketing, Seal Furniture & Systems, Denver, CO.

Vice President, Sales and Marketing, James Hill & Company, San Francisco, CA.

Executive Director, Trout Unlimited, Denver, CO.

Branch and Division Manager, Kistler Kwill, Denver, CO.

A true believer in civic duty and the spirit of volunteerism, Pete donated his time and energy to countless worthy causes, many listed below:

President, Board of International Fly Fishers Federation.

President, Board of Directors of Rocky Mountain Center on the Environment (ROMCOE).

Member, Board of Directors, Trout Unlimited.

Member, Board of Directors, American Museum of Fly Fishing.

Member, Board of Directors, American League of Anglers.

Member, Board of Directors, International Federation of Fly Fishers.

Member, Board of Directors, Rocky Mountain Center on the Environment.

Member, Board of Directors, Streamline, Inc..

Member, Board of Directors, Teller Wildlife Refuge.

Member, Washington State Fish & Wildlife Commission.

Member, Board of Directors, Trout & Salmon Foundation.

Member, Advisory Board, Stripers Unlimited.

Member, Magazine Advisory Board - Destination Fish.

Chairman, Colorado Springs Planning Commission.

President, Colorado Springs Symphony Association.

Most importantly, Pete was a good man, a man’s man. The enormity and strength of his physical being was matched only by the grace of his character as a husband and a father. He has left this world better than he found it. His memory lives in ours.

Pete never met a stranger. His cup was always half full. He found the goodness in everyone. To a fault, he had unwavering faith in his fellow man. Anything was possible and everything was attainable.

He’s in heaven now making that sound he always shouted when a fish would strike. The strength is back; he can run, lift, throw and move. His body works. He’s walking a Kansas corn field with his Brittany Spaniel. He’s pouring a hot cup of coffee to have with his cigarette, hunkered down in an Alamosa duck blind. He’s eating a plate of spaghetti and meatballs at La Tronica’s. He’s on a fly bridge or a salt flat, teasing some sportfish with a fly.

He’s teaching kids how to shoot, to throw, to hit, to run, and to catch. He’s teaching right from wrong, modeling how to be a man, how to provide and protect. He’s showing people what to do and what not to do. Most importantly, he’s “waiting on his woman” with a bunch of 45’s ready to spin on the record player so they can dance all night long in their living room.

No one is telling Pete he can’t catch the horizon, ‘cause it’s finally in his grasp.