Robin Williams, founder of Costa Rica’s Crocodile Bay Resort, died Saturday, December 14, after a lengthy illness. William took an old abandoned farm in Puerto Jiménez in the middle of the rain forest and turned it into a world-renowned fishing and Eco-tourism destination. Williams was a pioneer in the resort field. He was among the first to combine a full fishing program with a complete Eco-tourism package. Sport Fishing Magazine declared Crocodile Bay as the Number Two place in the world for a family fishing vacation.

Williams was also known for his generosity. Over the years he donated hundreds of resort trips to groups like the International Game Fish Association, Coastal Conservation Association, Safari Club, the Boy Scouts, and many others to use as fundraisers. He also donated trips to scientists and groups like FECOP, the Costa Rican sport fishing lobbying group, to do studies to support changes in fishing regulations. He allowed employees time off to lobby for those changes.

Todd Staley helped launch and worked side by side with Williams for two decades as Fishing Director at Crocodile Bay. He shared these comments about the resort’s visionary founder:

“I’ve had the honor to work under two great mentors in my many years in Costa Rica,” Staley says. “The first was the late Archie Fields, owner of Rio Colorado Lodge. He taught me the fishing hotel business from the ground up. The second was Robin. He became so much more than a boss but also a true friend. So now another Costa Rica champion is gone. But I can picture Archie and Robin meeting in the great beyond and sitting on a dock together. They would have so many wonderful stories to share.”