Hi all ... On Monday night I received the terrible news that my father had died. Some may know he has spent the past 6-7 mos battling pacnreatic cancer. He was courageous to the end, and for that I'll always admire him. Instead of accepting the terrible prognosis, he decided to fight it, and took chemo every week that his cell counts allowed it. Being a physician, I knew all along that the prognosis was poor, and tried not to give up hope at every bit of disappointing news, but it is still very hard for me to say goodby. He was a good father, very close to all of our family and my daughter Brittany was particularly close to him so it will be very hard to tell her later today when I pick her up to take her to GA to be with the family and for the services.

Like many families, my father and I had a rough relationship during my teen and young adult years. I was very glad that things improved later and we were much closer. He was a remarkable man. He never knew a stranger. He could strike up a long conversation with just about anyone and it always amazed me with how much information about someone's life experiences he could gather in 5 minutes of conversation. Extremely generous, the kind of person that would give you their last dollar.

He always was an incredible athlete. He played as a starting lineman on the 1960 UGA football team after transfering there for his senior year. He was invited to a pro camp the following spring, but decided his knees had been through enough. He was head coach for a number of years for an Atlanta area high school then decided to teach so that he would have more time with family. Even many years after his coaching was done, his students still called him Coach Prince. Once a coach, always a coach I guess. He maintained fitness as best he could by running, even though his years of football had left his knees in pretty bad shape.

In the mid 70's he and I started canoeing together on the small whitewater streams of middle and Northern GA. In '77 I started kayaking and Dad stayed in the open canoe. We had many great trips together on the Nantahala, Chattooga and other rivers. During my raft guiding years he actually decided to learn to guide and would help us out some on the Ocoee on weekends just for fun. He didn't guide that often so he was always a bit rusty but the customers loved him because he just had a way with people.

He didn't start cycling until he was 53, but after he retired around age 55, he was riding 40-60 miles almost every day and rode many centuries. Before his first bout with cancer (gastric) in '95, he could easily hang with me on road bicycle rides or mountain biking in difficult areas in the Rockies and desert Southwest. I remember huffing and puffing to somehow stay on the bike on steep climbs up passes over 11,000 feet, and would look back and dad would be only a few yards behind... always amazed me. During my heavy cycling years he was with me for most of my 2-3 weeks a year spent riding the mountain bike meccas out West and on many weekend trips to the trails of Pisgah and Tsali. He never learned to snowboard or ski, (tried a couple times, but just didn't take to it) but loved to cross country ski while I was out on the hill on Western trips. We had many great times together, memories I will always cherish.

It's sad that he was ill for most of the time that Brittany has been able to participate in these activities. As he learned of Brittany's boating accomplishments over this past Summer, he would always say I can't wait to get better so I can go kayaking with Brittany. Always positive, always hopeful.

We will miss him, and I will continue to strive to be more like him.

My condolences to you and your family

Wavey

In Anticipation of Precipitation
WaVeY

Sorry to hear about that, Wes. Hope you and Brittany are doing OK.

Sad to hear of your loss Wes. Our thoughts and sympathy go out to both you and Brit.
barryg

That was a touching account of some experiences the two of you were able to share together. My sincere condolences to you, your daughter, and your family.

Clay

Sounds like your dad achieved what I hold to be my own greatest goal: to be remembered fondly by those left behind. Good job there, John W. Prince Sr.

Dallas

Dallas

Wes: I am so sorry to hear of your loss. Good that Brit got to know him. Apples don't fall far from the tree and he will live on through you and your daughter.
Brent

Wes,
Sorry to hear of your lose. Thanks for sharing. It sounds like you and your dad had a great relationship. This is an inspiration to me. I hope I can be as good of a father as John W. was to you. You and Brittany take care.
Dave

Ledgeman

Wes,
I am very to sorry about the loss of your father. He left you with memories that you and Brittany will always have. Take care.

Allen

I'm very sorry to hear about your dad Wes. As my parents approach their seventies I try not to think too much about the inevitable, but I know I will have to face it eventually. Thankfully they have good health for now.

I hope that Brittany is holding in there. When you're that young and don't have much experience with death it hits especially hard.