Great loss - Vito Busalacchi

[kirkdavis]

I had no idea of his name, and I certainly thought he was decades younger than what you are reporting. I met that very nice gentleman probably half a dozen times outside Mission bay in the last year or so. We always chatted for a few minutes (about fishing of course), then each went our own way. Seems like he wasn't too concerned about whether he caught fish that day...he just loved being out there like the rest of us. He put a lot of miles on that yak. I am always outside the bay by daylight, and I believe he always beat me out, and he would go down as far as the green towers on Point Loma.
I last saw him just a month or so ago, and am saddened by the fact I won't be seeing him again.
May he rest in peace.
It gives us hope that we can pursue our dreams to a ripe old age!

[steveooo]

Oh man, this is rough news. Vito was a regular encounter on trips to La Jolla, always fun to chat with, a very fishy guys, and super helpful when I was just a newb. We should all be so lucky as to enjoy this sport as late into life as Vito did.

God Speed Brother.

[kurt]

A true gentleman, kind soul, and all around class act. I feel lucky to have known him, and he'll be missed. Rest in peace, Vito.

[Holy Mackerel]

RIP Vito, always a friendly voice on the water.

[LEEZO]

He lived a couple houses from my parents. He was always hosing down a salty kayak out in front of his home. Had the pleasure of chating with him a couple times. He was a legend and will be missed. RIP Vito

[swinginFish]

I started kayak fishing in LJ in 2001. On one of my earliest outings I start chatting to a guy on the water and, after sharing names, we realized we knew each other from school-related work more than a decade earlier in Escondido. Ever since then, Vito and I would re-encounter each other on the water in LJ and recount both fishing and work-related incidents (Vito had the more interesting stories). While there's likely a former Escondido truant or two who might still have harsh feelings for Vito, the bottom line is his loss leaves a vacuum that is impossible to fill. He was, in short, a wonderfully animated, well-meaning and invariably gracious guy who knew what was what on the water and elsewhere. Those of us known or recognized as the so-called "old guard" were quite lucky to count Vito as part of our posse, and vice versa. I fear the day's passed when "Yo Vito!" would ring across the water. Those were fine times, fine times. RIP paison, RIP!
Avery

[Deamon]

Vito! The friendliest, most gracious kayak man. He’d want them bass for his pasta meals. Always alone when I’d run into him, but we’d immediately fish together every time! RIP Vito.
Jim