Dennis charney- FFP

nymphingmaniac

nymphingmaniac

Well-known member
Joined
Sep 1, 2010
Messages
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State College
Hi all,
I saw on Facebook this morning that Dennis passed away this weekend. He was the current owner of FFP in State College.He worked there for many years. I waited to post because it was not confirmed and today Spring Creek TU sent out a notice his tying session next month is cancelled. That's two datapoints.

He had a wife and at least one child, a daughter. I will miss the banter between the two of us- both recovering Garden Staters. We grew up with 15 miles of each in NJ.
 
Dear nymphingmania,

Sadly, FFP confirmed that Dennis passed away on Facebook today. He was a nice guy the few times I visited FFP since the sale.

Regards,

Tim Murphy

www.wetzlerfuneralhome.com

Dennis Charney Obituary - Visitation & Funeral Information

We strive to make our families and visitors feel comfortable while paying respects to their lost loved ones, and we make considerable efforts to maintain our focus on the high standards expected of a place of tribute.
www.wetzlerfuneralhome.com www.wetzlerfuneralhome.com
 
Sad to hear. My FFP days started in the Steve and Dan in the basement of the Lemont post office days. I only had a few encounters with Dennis because I just haven’t gone west of Penns Creek much in many years, but found him incredibly helpful and sharing. Gone, but not forgotten.
 
This is sad news. I stop at FFP several times each year. I will miss Dennis saying “ you know the routine” as I began to fill my basket. He was busy tying cicada patterns.
 
jifigz said:
That's sad to hear. I hope the shop continues to live on and someone is able to keep it running.
Click to expand...
Last time I was in the shop was 2022. My impression was the business was suffering. I don't know if the area can support two shops. Hopefully it survives. I always liked old school shops with a tying bench at hand and a few old timers hanging around. Steve was able to maintain that atmosphere even after moving into that commercial strip.

I drove by the shop a week before Dennis passed but didn't stop as I was in a hurry, picking up some supplies at Rural King. Now I wish I had stopped. Prayers for his family.
 
Tabasco-Joe said:
Last time I was in the shop was 2022. My impression was the business was suffering. I don't know if the area can support two shops. Hopefully it survives. I always liked old school shops with a tying bench at hand and a few old timers hanging around. Steve was able to maintain that atmosphere even after moving into that commercial strip.

I drove by the shop a week before Dennis passed but didn't stop as I was in a hurry, picking up some supplies at Rural King. Now I wish I had stopped. Prayers for his family.
Click to expand...
The impression I got from the shop the last few times I was in there is that it was suffering, too. State College has supported two shops for quite a few years. When did TCO move into town?

I always liked Dennis, but I did not like the shop as much after he took over. It just seemed different to me, but in a bad way. I wasn't helping, either, as I am guilty of ordering materials online through J. Stockard.
 
TCO's online model is light years ahead of FFP, and has been for years. I would think this gives them a massive leg up both in capital and visibility. Younger people getting into the sport are going to go where they are familiar, and TCO online gives them familiarity, so when they go to State College they are going with what they know.

I always liked FFP, and even ordered online from them every chance I could give them business, but I doubt that would be the case if I had just started 5 years ago.
 
Dennis was a great guy, and that's way too young!

FFP for me is the source for hard to find items like fox squirrel, animal furs, unusual game bird feathers and general old school stuff that TCO can't just source from Wapsi. Their carded rayon chenille is still light years ahead of anything you can buy from the big name shops. TCO just seems corporate and soulless to me in comparison. Then you factor in their goofy in-stream updates while still claiming Penns water temps are in the 50's when I just temped below Swift Run in the high 60's.
 
I hope the shop survives I don't visit regularly but have usually placed an order every fall for hooks and materials and early spring for line other things. He was always pleasant and knowledgeable to speak to on the phone. The stream conditions were always pretty spot on, IMHO.
Best thing to do is support the shop.
I do have an order to be laced.
 
nymphingmaniac said:
gees guys, how about holding back the criticism of his running the shop in this post. Start another if you need to weigh in on the pros and cons of his business
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Yeah. That was a little insensitive on my part. My apologies.

I still will always be a FlyFisher's supporter and shopper as long as they are around.
 
What a shock. So sorry to hear, I always liked Dennis. He always played such interesting music in the shop. i was in the shop a couple weeks ago during grannom time and saw Steve S. in there stocking fly bins, Dennis was not in. Didn't think much of it at the time, just a guy helping during busy season.

years ago during sulfur time I saw Dennis guiding what looked to be some very beginner guys on Spring - I had caught a few risers just down stream of him and told him there were more in the next pool below him. He gave me a look of thanks and relief to get these guys some fish.

Prayers for him and his family.
 
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