Written by daughter Ariana Stubbmann, in loving memory of her father, Tom Breitfeller
Every fisherman knows what it means to take one more drift. It’s the optimism that lives in every angler—the belief that the next cast, the next tide, or the next drift might be the one we’ll remember forever.
Sometimes it is.
When people speak about their final moments, they often don’t wish for more possessions, more meetings, or more obligations. They wish for one more drift—one more quiet ride with the people they love, one more sunset, one more chance to appreciate the simple things that were there all along.
We don’t get to choose how we leave this world, but if we did, I’m sure many of us would pick Tom’s exit. He loved the Great South Bay. He loved fishing. But most of all, he loved his family. Being out on the water, fishing on May 27 on a calm, late afternoon with his grandson in the moments before tragedy struck, was a blessing to both him and his family.
May and June can be some of the best months to live on Long Island. The bay is beautiful and calm, and there aren’t too many boats out yet. By the time July 4 rolled around, Tom, affectionately known in more recent years as “Pa,” would often joke, “Summer’s over.” He knew how quickly time could fly. But in late spring and early summer, there was so much hope and so much promise of fun ahead. It was fitting that he left this world at that moment in time, doing none other than fishing.
Wednesday afternoon was just like any other day. Damien called his grandfather to go fishing with a friend aboard the boat they had purchased the previous fall. It was a project boat that Pa had convinced Damien would serve him well. Without hesitation, Pa answered, “What time can I scoop you up?”
The boys said Pa was his usual self, cracking jokes and spending time setting up a lure better suited for a shark or tuna than a fluke. Shortly before tragedy struck, Damien asked his grandfather if he was ready to go home. Pa told the boys, “One more drift…”
Those were the last words Damien heard his grandfather say. After that, things happened quickly, and the two boys heroically brought him back to the dock as fast as possible. The incredible emergency response team worked tirelessly to bring him back, and we were all able to say our final goodbyes before he took his last breath.
Fishing has never been just about catching fish. If it were, most would quit after a slow day. Fishermen return because it gives them something harder to find than a trophy catch. It gives them peace. It slows time. It reminds them to enjoy the sunset.
Damien summed up his grandfather perfectly: “Pa wasn’t the best fisherman. He definitely wasn’t the neatest or most organized, but he was, without a doubt, the most fun to go out with.”
And isn’t that what it’s all about? Enjoying the moment, the people around you, and ultimately having fun wherever you are, whether you’re catching fish or just fishing.
Life is short. Often too short. Do what matters.
In loving memory of our favorite “Pa”: Be faithful, be loving, be forgiving, and make time for just one more drift.
After all, you never know when it will be your last.
