And the 2025 Paul Gasbarino Distinguished Service Award goes to…
By: Brent Bochek
Editor’s note: Below is a transcription of Mr. Bochek’s speech that he delivered when he presented the 2025 service award. Brent was gracious enough to submit a copy of the speech and an accompanying picture to share with the membership.
It’s a tremendous honor for me to be presenting the Paul Gasbarino Distinguished Service Award. To me, Paul Gasparino was much more than just a Muskies Canada member, he was also a friend. Not only did he spend 9 years as our National President, but he is also one of the founding members of Muskies Canada.
I was extremely fortunate to have the pleasure of spending time in a boat with Paul, and off the water tipping back a few of our favorite beverages!
Paul’s passion and dedication to Muskies Canada was the groundwork for what the club is today. Over the 35 years that Paul spent as a member of Muskies Canada, not only did he serve as its President, but he also served as a chairman at the chapter level.
Paul was involved with many projects and could always be found at an MCI outing with a smile on his face and a story to tell!
Today, the Paul Gasbarino Distinguished Service Award is being presented to an individual who has dedicated a great amount of time and effort to help Muskies Canada progress to new heights and set a precedent that we should all strive to achieve.
During a consecutive 14-year span, this year’s recipient has served 5 years in a chapter executive role at the chapter level, 9 years within the national executive, and additionally served as MCI President for 2 years.
He served as the Release Journal Editor for 4 years and spent the remaining years as a Director At Large.
In 2019, he took the Muskie Odyssey to a new level that has set the bar high for all future Odysseys. His focus was on changing the way we ran the event, all while fulfilling our mission and vision to raise funds and awareness for our watersheds.
He has further cemented our standing and importance within the scientific community by continually supporting and advocating for the health of our fisheries, while staying connected and making new connections in the name of conservation, he’s changed how we think and feel about conservation and has provided our mission and vision with strategic direction.
Ladies and gentlemen, please rise and give a BIG round of applause for our 2025 Paul Gasbarino Distinguished Service Award recipient … Mr. Peter Levick.
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