Otto Vinje, LA1IE, became Silent Key on 20 November 2006, at an age of 73.
Otto was licensed in August 1952, and he was a very active ham throughout his life. With moderate power and wire antennas he managed to nearly "work them all". His operating skills was excellent, and he loved rag-chewing in additon to DX. The last ten years or so he was an active memeber of FOC.
Otto and I met at highschool in Aalesund back in 1947. We shared at that time a great interest in ham-radio. Together we learned the Morse-code and when we left highschool after three years we were able to copy/send high speed Morse.
During the coming years we both became Radio Officers and served as such on different vessels in the Norwegian Merchant Fleet during the 1950s. Later we both had our professional careers in Norwegian Telecommunication and retired nearly at the same time in mid 1990s, and became "full-time" hams.
Throughout all these years we kept contact with each other on the bands and by personal visits.
I will miss Otto, his excellent Morse and his friendship very much.