From: "Bernie McClenny, W3UR"
Date: Tue, 14 Nov 2000 06:19:19 +0000
Subject: [Dx] 5X1C-Mario, Silent Key
We're sad to, once again, loose a dear friend and UN collegue. Mario-5X1C
left us last night.
We both got to know Mario when his wife Betty joined UNWFP in Kampala as
radio operator, four years ago. We met Mario regularly on the bands, for a
drink, or sat together for a technical discussion. Mario was one of the
first licensed 5X hams, mostly active in phone, satellite and digital
modes. We still remember the nights we were running 5X HF pileups or were
ragchewing all together on VHF.
He was also the chairman for the Uganda Radio Amateur Society for a year.
Mario joined UNWFP as telecommunications technician in the fast
intervention team earlier this year. He was first based in Kosovo and was
about to move to Pakistan. In August, he left for a two months mission to
Chechnya, Georgia, Armenia and Azerbaijan. He had to interrupt this mission
because he developped a worrying medical problem. He went back home to
Uganda to get surgery, in October. During the post operation treatment
period, Mario developped jaundice and he got worse fast. He was re-admitted
to the hospital just a few days ago. Mario passed away in the hospital last
evening.
Mario was dear friend to us, and an esteemed collegue. A UN official
recently typified him as 'a technician with golden hands, who was able to
fix every bit of broken equipment in no time..'
We will all miss him dearly. Our thoughts and prayers go to his wife Betty
and their children.
The 5X UNWFP gang,
Mats-SM7PKK/5X1Z
Joe-G3MRC/5X1P
Peter-ON6TT/5X1T