Amateur radio has lost yet another great asset. A ham for almost 70 years, my Uncle Al passed away yesterday morning. He will be missed by all that had the pleasure to know him...
Alfred V. Altomari, 87, of Lorain, died Saturday, Nov. 18, 2006, at New Life Hospice Center of St. Joseph in Lorain, after a short illness.
He was born June 4, 1919, in Monessen, Pa., and lived most of his life in Lorain.
He served in the Civilian Conservation Corps as a radioman and then he enlisted in the U.S. Navy Communications Reserve. In early 1941 he was called to active duty, served at naval bases, was assigned to an Air Group on USS Bennington in the Pacific, serving until the end of World War II. He was discharged with the rank of aviation chief radioman and received the American Campaign, American Defense, Asiatic-Pacific, Good Conduct and World War II Victory medals.
Altomari worked at U.S. Steel's Lorain Works for 35 years, retiring in 1976 as an assistant general foreman.
He was active in amateur radio with the call sign of W8QWI since 1937; was a member of the Amateur Radio Association and a volunteer Federal Communications Commission examiner overseeing amateur radio license examinations. He earned many certificates and awards, taught classes in radio theory and code and was a member of NOARS and the Northern Ohio DX association and was the interim president of the DX Club.
He was a member of the Catholic Church of St. Peter, Italian-American Veterans Post 1 and Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 451, all in Lorain, and served as president and secretary of the Lorain County Muscular Dystrophy Association. He enjoyed league bowling, fishing and travel and was an avid gardener.
Survivors include his wife of 65 years, Stella N. (nee Astorino); daughters: Nancy Altomari of Avon and Ginny Altomari of Elyria; son, Frank Altomari of Lorain, sisters Marie Altomari of Monessen, Pa., and Elizabeth ''Lee'' Codispoti of Detroit; brother, Eugene Altomari of Monessen, Pa.; and six grandchildren and several great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by a son, Ralph Altomari, in 1974; his parents, Raffele and Angelina (nee Caruso) Altomari; sister, Adeline Altomari; and brothers James Altomari, Ernest Altomari, Angelo Altomari, Joseph Altomari and Frank Altomari.