Barry Coddens - Reflections on a Friend

Barry Coddens - Reflections on a Friend

 

Written by Jeff Reinke, past GBTU President

 

On August 7, 2024, we learned of our friend Barry Coddens’ passing. He was 72 years old.  By any measure of time, that seems way too soon. As we get older, and these things happen, we take the time to reflect on the lives of those who passed, and how they made a difference to ours. I’ve found that I like to put these events into a context that makes sense to me, and even helps me to resolve chapters in my own story.

 

Like most fly anglers, I started to think about standing in stream, watching everything around me and feeling the water move past, knowing that well before and after I’m not there, the water flows and eventually becomes part of the ocean and the bigger world. However, for a moment in the stream, that water is mine. I recognize the fleeting moment I have made contact with the water and how quickly it moves past me, and, out of sight, fulfilling its own complete destiny. It occurred to me that the people in our lives are a lot like that flowing water. We might only have them for a time and only get to know them so little. We can’t change that fact, nor slow time, but we can pause enough to appreciate all that was there for us. Though it seemed brief, Barry was there for us. He wore many hats and as news of his passing spread, we began telling our own stories of how we got to know him and what he meant to us.   

 

Barry was a great husband, father, professor, mentor, advocate and leader. A few years back I discovered that he had a Doctorate in Chemistry. Aside from all those things mentioned earlier and, what we knew about him, his humility kept that a bit of a secret. In our interactions with Barry, the teacher in him was always apparent, especially when he tied flies. He was evangelical! Barry was an Outstanding Volunteer and a Volunteer Leader with Trout Unlimited and Northern Illinois Fly Tyers. In his time with The Gary Borger Chapter of Trout Unlimited, Barry chaired Education, served as Vice President and eventually served as Chapter President. He also was a member of the Illinois Council of TU and chaired that group as well, making him the TU National Representative for the State of Illinois. Barry never shied away from leadership and naturally ascended to the highest levels quickly. He offered his knowledge and lent his hand to conservation efforts, stile building, education, The Illinois Council Youth Camp and Project Healing Waters Fly Fishing to name a few.

 

In speaking with Kurt Meier, longtime GBTU Member and Treasurer, Kurt said.

 

 “With Barry as President of GBTU, his wife Myra became our “First Lady”. They both reinforced the desire to broaden the demographics of flyfishing. Their efforts have continued with those who have followed in their footsteps.”

 

For many of us, it was our first encounter with Barry that stands out. Barry was always welcoming at the chapter meetings and that was how I came to know him. That first night, he saw that I was standing alone and presumably new. Barry introduced himself and gave me his brand-new TU hat. It’s one of my prized possessions and wear it proudly.

 

This was just the way Barry was. Even prior to joining TU he left a lasting impression on long time Chapter Member Matt Jennings who shared this memory.

 

“Barry was a big presence, and I still remember meeting Barry and one of his daughters while I was working at a fishing show. Barry had just taken up fly fishing and was really looking for fishing information. We were telling the public about some work TU was doing and we had little tanks with aquatic insects in them on display. It was clear from the beginning that he and his daughter knew more about the science of aquatic insects than we did. It all made sense when he let me in on the fact that he was a chemistry professor at Northwestern University. From then until the last time I spoke with Barry, he was always willing to lend his great knowledge and insights to further the work of any group we worked on together. 

 

Recently, while talking to Rebecca Grill about all the great people that had come together to work on restoring the North Shore ravines and educating the public about water quality, we were amazed at the amount of talent that was assembled in that one team to make that positive change. We both agreed at the top of the list were Barry and Myra Coddens and how wonderful and gracious they had been to share what they knew with not just us, but also with the students interested in science. 

 

One of my favorite things about being around Barry was his no-nonsense ability to look at everything. Sometimes his brevity was perceived as curt, but after years of working with Barry on many projects I learned to appreciate the way it kept things moving and got things done. Barry took on many pivotal roles within TU and he always took his job seriously. I was always happy to have him on my side in any project we worked on. Barry was a great friend to me and although we came about things from different perspectives, I loved having that big-brained, big-hearted guy on my side in whatever we got ourselves into. So many good fishing trips, workdays, fundraisers, educational events, council meetings, camp planning, fish releases...I'll miss you Barry, hopefully we made a difference and had some fun along the way!”

 

Former GBTU President Darwin Adams had this to share about Barry.

 

‘When Barry came to a TU meeting for the first time, we got to talking and found out we were neighbors.  We started sharing rides to TU meetings and later to a fly-tying group.  While working on projects like Boy Scout’s fly-fishing merit badge, Illinois TU youth camp, and Project Healing Waters Fly Fishing, Barry became a mentor to me, without his knowing it, for his ability to communicate with others. The one thing I missed doing with Barry was to really go fishing with him.  I enjoyed my time with Barry and was glad to be able to call him “friend.”  RIP Barry.”

 

Over the years Barry continued to be welcoming and engaging with new members. Seth Horowitz and Elizabeth Rodgers had this to share.

 

“Elizabeth and I first met Barry when we went to a monthly TU Chapter meeting in Deerfield. Barry was the first person to greet us as we walked in. He welcomed us and asked us to sit at his table. As we were a bit new to flyfishing, we had almost insatiable appetites to learn, and Barry was happy to teach. We were newcomers, unsure of what to expect, but Barry’s welcoming smile put us at ease, and he shared stories of fishing adventures, environmental initiatives, and the camaraderie that TU fosters. Barry also lent us a vise kit that ignited our passion for tying flies.

 

Current GBTU President Dina Lissner and Trout in the Classroom Chair Tim Ratty offered these thoughts.

 

“Barry was an incredibly welcoming leader when Tim and I first joined TU. He always greeted us with a smile. Barry was a wealth of information; his knowledge was an integral part of both my fly fishing and fly-tying career (don’t hold that against him). I always enjoyed a good laugh with both Barry and Myra at GBTU meetings as well as PHWFF. 

 

Barry was always willing to help and support me both as VP and president of the chapter. I’m thankful I had the opportunity to get to know both Barry and Myra. I will always have a special place in my heart for the Coddens family.”

 

As a leader of leaders, Barry could identify those attributes in others and made efforts to mentor and align those individuals to help the cause. In the early stages of establishing a Project Healing Waters Program, Barry and I spent many hours on the phone talking through the details and sliding into philosophical discussions about leadership in general.  He told me I was a “fighter” which gave a boost of confidence. It was those conversations that helped me set the basis for my own Chapter Presidency.

 

This event reminded me of two valuable life lessons. The first is that we all stand connected in a stream that can take us beyond what we can see or know about ourselves and others.  The second is that it’s important to acknowledge those who play a part in our lives. Barry, you’re still teaching!

 

Finally, Seth Horowitz offered this piece that sums it up well.

 

“Barry was a steadfast conservationist who believed in the power of community engagement to protect our precious waterways. His commitment extended beyond mere membership; he served as the chapter’s president.

 

Beyond his role as Chapter President, Barry was a skilled angler and a patient teacher. He organized stream restoration projects, mentored young anglers, and championed TU’s mission to protect cold-water fisheries. His dedication was unwavering, and his impact was immeasurable.

 

Barry Coddens leaves behind a legacy of stewardship, friendship, and community. As we mourn his passing, let us honor his memory by continuing the work he started—the work that binds us together as TU members. Barry’s legacy lives on in every stream we protect, every fish we release, and every person we welcome into our fold.

 

Rest in peace, Barry. Tight lines forever.”