The Guppy Years

Capt, Richie, was born Richard John Kessinger on Christams Eve, in Ridgewood, Queens, New York. He was the second son of William and Ana Kessinger and preceded by his older brother William (Bill). His father was a letter carrier for the US Postal Service. Brother Bill went on to serve in the Navy and was a veteran of World War II. Richie's first experiences fishing were from bridges and rowboats in the coastal waters of southwestern Long Island. He was eventually exposed to deep sea fishing at approximately the age of twelve by his brother Bill and Uncle Henry aboard the "Atomic," with Capt. Sparky in Sheepshead Bay, Brooklyn.

He was eventually introduced in his early teens to his neighbor across the street, who would turn out to be the man who would ultimately change and influence his life forever. The man happened to be Charlie Roesch, the captain of the "Flash II" that sailed from Henning's Fishing Station in Far Rockaway, Queens. Charlie's sister would see Richie return with his rods from his fishing adventures and thought it a good idea to "hook them up" so to speak. A lifelong friendship began and soon Richie would be invited along to fish on the "Flash" during his young teens. Richie also recalls fishing aboard the "White Eagle" with Capt Connie Rank out of Canarsie, where he had to board a subway and trolley car with his fishing gear to make the solo trek to Brooklyn.

Richie recollects his initial bouts with seasickness, but the sight of all those fish the other anglers pulled in always kept him coming back. Eventually, Richie became a "deadhead" on the "Flash". He would work as the second or third mate without pay, which afforded him the privilege to fish for free. Eventually Richie worked as a hired deckhand for Charlie in his late teens on weekends and full-time during summer months until he graduated from Grover Cleveland High School in Ridgewood in 1952