Richard Andrew Fencsak, 57, of Astoria, died Thursday, Feb. 21, 2008, in Portland.

He was born July 18, 1950, in Passaic, N.J., to John and Florence (Johnson) Fencsak. His parents preceded him in death.

Raised in Clifton, N.J., Mr. Fencsak graduated from Pope Pius High School in 1967. He came West to attend the University of Puget Sound. He then transferred to the University of Oregon, graduating in 1971.

After graduating from college, he taught school for a period of time, then spent a year in Cannon Beach surfing. In the early 1980s, he started working for the Columbia River Maritime Museum in a Volunteers In Service To America grant-funded position. Later, he became the museum’s first education coordinator, developing programs for school groups, Elderhostel and docent training. He left the CRMM in 1988.

On Aug. 27, 1988, he married Joan Herman. They later divorced. She survives, residing in Longview, Wash. The couple owned and operated Bikes and Beyond in Astoria, which opened in 1988.

On March 4, 2006, he married Arline Layton in Portland. She survives, residing in Astoria.

In the 1990s, Mr. Fencsak started writing a fitness column, Forever Fit, for The Daily Astorian. More than 10 years ago, he became the freelance food critic for the paper’s Coast Weekend magazine, and was well-known for his column, The Mouth of the Columbia. He also wrote about food and travel for The Oregonian and other national and regional publications.

Mr. Fencsak was appointed to the Astoria Design Review Committee Dec. 18, 2005, for a four-year term. He resigned in August 2007. Previously, he was a member of the Astoria-Warrenton Area Chamber of Commerce Governmental Affairs Committee and the Astoria Merchants Committee. The Astoria City Council honored him in February by naming the Richard Fencsak Cathedral Tree Trail after him.

Family members said he was an avid outdoorsman and athlete who enjoyed surfing, swimming, climbing and bicycling. He was a regional class runner, and one of the original organizers of the Great Columbia Crossing bridge run. He was interested in the local growth of Astoria, public lands and historic preservation.

In addition to his wife, he is survived by three siblings, Pat Dunn, John Fencsak and David Fencsak.

A public celebration of life will be held at 2 p.m. Sunday at the Columbia River Maritime Museum.

Hughes-Ransom Cremation & Mortuaries in Astoria is in charge of the arrangements.