CCTU Loses One of It’s Founding Fathers, Al Makkai

Cutthroat Chapter is sad to note the passing of one of our chapter’s founding fathers, Alexander Makkai.

Al was a major player for some of the seminal years of the chapter’s history, including several terms as chapter president, many years as newsletter editor, chapter legal counsel, and the emcee at the Cutthroat Annual Auction for the past twenty five years and also the emcee for the CTU Auction.

Al was an expert fly tyer and a well-traveled fly fisherman, enjoying many trips to Alaska, Asia and British Columbia.  He specialized in steelhead and salmon fly patterns.  He appeared for many years in the International Sportsman’s Expo and the Fly Fishing Show in Denver.   He also regularly appeared at the West Denver Fly tying Clinic, the Cutthroat Fly Tying Clinic, Cherry Creek Anglers Fly Tying Clinic, and many other local and state events.

Al will be sorely missed by all his friends and fishing and fly tying buddies. Our condolences go out to Al’s wife Ellen and son Adam and daughter Katie.  Services will be on Wednesday at 2PM at Olinger Chapel Hill Mortuary and Cemetery, 6601 S. Colorado Blvd., Centennial, Colorado.  In lieu of flowers, the family has requested donations to the Scum of the Earth Church and Colorado Trout Unlimited.

By Friend and Cutthroat Board Member, Richard Pilatzke.

CCTU Keystone Member Al Makkai

From friend and Cutthroat Board Member Steve Bailey:

Al Makkai will truly be missed.  Al was instrumental building our Cutthroat Chapter into what it is today. Back in the late 70′s and early 80′s Al was Chapter President for many years when no one else would volunteer.  He was also Newsletter editor for close to 10 years.  Since Al was an attorney he had a big part in molding our early bylaws.  Most members only knew Al as an expert fly tyer and fisherman, our Chapter annual auction MC, and CTU’s annual auction MC.  Al was always there when needed.  Yes, Al Makkai will be missed.

His good friend,
Steve Bailey

From friend and Cutthroat Board Member Jim Rasmussen:

Al Makkai was the chapter president at the first Trout Unlimited chapter meeting I attended in the mid 1970s. I think the chapter had a different name then, possibly South Platte. The chapter met in the basement of a Mexican restaurant on South, Santa Fe drive. At that meeting they had a fly of month segment and Al extolled the virtues of a fly he called the Chippewa Caddis, named for his friend and fly tying instructor, Tom Lentz. The fly was a #12, Brown hackle, peacock. This is still one of my favorite flies for fishing the Arkansas River.

Want to leave some words about your memories of Al?  Visit the Denver Post and sign their guest book.  It’s up until May 8^th and a great way to let his family know how important he is to all of us.  Denver Post Obituary – Sign the guest list.