Frank was the consummate Ham and experimenter. He was a gentleman, a very generous and giving person and loved by everyone. His contributions to the Stratford Amateur Radio Club(W1ORS), many of its individual members and the Ham community in general are far to numerous to list. Frank's passing is a loss to all of us - Frank is greatly missed.
I thought it would be appropriate to add this extract from the W1ORS, Stratford Amateur Radio Club history book:
"Field Day is something we all look forward to each year. It is a time to enjoy our club and friends. This year Field Day (1996) came and went in a rather methodical, uneventful way. Although it is always a great time to reaffirm old acquaintances and make new ones, there seemed to be a slight undercurrent of dispirit. We all did our jobs and we all had a good time. However, the topic of discussion frequently turned to Frank Merkler, WA2TJR/SK. How could it not? Everywhere, there were little reminders of him. Yagi antennas homebrewed by him, equipment donated to the club by him, lessons we learned from his continued tinkering and, of course, conspicuous by its absence, the pervasive air of his presence."