From the ARRL "Contest Rate Sheet":
Widely-known contest stalwart Phil Goetz N6ZZ died suddenly from a cerebral hemorrhage. Phil's call can be found
in many, many logs and from many, many places. He was one of the
only contesters to have operated from all 40 CQ Zones, completing his
"sweep" only recently from, of all places, Zone 5 in an operation
from the station of K1ZZ. Phil was also active in the CQ WW
committee and in assisting WRTC, among many other things. Donations
can be made in Phil's memory to the Ruidoso Public Library, 107
Kansas City Road Ruidoso, New Mexico 88345. RIP N6ZZ.
I never met Phil but N6ZZ appears in my log
many times. 40 meters and 80 meters and
several 160 meters all contest cw qsos it
appears. Thanks for the Q's and RIP OM.
I first met Phil in the early 1970s while helping N6AA install some antennas. For some reason I remember he was the first person I ever knew that owned a Toyota (weird, the things you remember). I still remember him as W6DQX.
I had been away from radio for 30 some-odd years, but when I became active again I found N6ZZ just as active as ever. I never got to operate along side Phil, but I'll bet it was something to see. When I became active again I thought of many of the folks I met back then with whom I would be able to renew the connection. Phil was definitely on the list.
I'm sorry I didn't get to see Phil again. Contesting has definitely lost a big voice.
Ken K6MR (WB6VFJ/WK6F)
Photo from Signal Point (PJ2T) in Curacao, as Phil was passing through on his way to Surinam for CQWW CW in November 2006.
The guy was a great CW op!
He was an even better friend of ham radio and contesting.