I just saw W8ERN, Angelo, listed in the QST Silent Keys column. It put a lump in my throat. I knew his illness had returned. He didn't say a lot about it on the air but he had mentioned it. It was in remission for a time but at 83, it finally caught up with him. Angelo and I went back a long time. I first worked him when I was 16. That was in the fall of 1969. Forty meter SSB. I last worked him in 2015 when I was 61. In between, we'd had dozens of QSOs on HF and VHF. Angelo was blessed with a distinctive, plesant voice. I could turn across a band and immediately know it was him from just his voice. He was always a true gentleman on the air and popular. People lined up to work him. He treated me so nicely when we had that first QSO 46 years ago when I was a wet-behind-the-ears kid ham. But he treated everyone that way. I remember when he lived in Redford Township, Mich. and then later moved to Brighton, Mich. For a time, I also lived in Michigan and we had many long simplex QSOs on 2 meter FM. He told me about his early career at Multi-Elmac, a one-time ham manufacturer in Oak Park, Mich. He was involved with that company's ATR-4 SSB transceiver, an ahead-of-its time rig that never hit the market because Multi-Elmac exited the ham market. Too bad. Later, he became a successful manufacturer's rep. Angelo was an active ham -- all bands and all modes. We had a nice SSB QSO one day on 17 meters -- backscatter with both of us turning our beams to the west with good signals. I will miss his gentle on-air demeanor and knowledge of amateur radio. 73, my friend, Dave, N4KZ
I am deeply sad to hear of one of Amateur Radios true
gentlemen, Angelo W8ERN. I can hear his booming
voice from 'Brighton, Michigan'. We had many
conversations about his Elmac days and some of his
great accomplishments throughout his life. He and his
wife were avid dancers and enjoyed music. I would
send each of my theatre organ CD which he thoroughly
enjoyed. It is sad to know that so many of our
gentlemen operators are being lost. I will miss Angelo,
from 'Brighton, Michigan' very much.
So sorry to hear of Angelos passing I've worked him
many times over the years and I used to love listening to
him working DX .
W8 "Everything Running Normally" used to tickle me
that :)
Phil 2e0udx
It was very sad to hear of Angelo's passing. I had known him for over 50 years and we kept in touch over that entire time. I had the pleasure of visiting Angelo and his wife at their home in Brighton spending many hours talking about Ham Radio and life in general. He was always pleasant and helpful and very friendly to all he met on the air. His passing breaks a very wonderful link I had with my amateur radio upbringing in Detroit and I will miss him very much. Rest in peace my friend.
I felt the pain when I heard the bad news. Angelo was very pleasant and honestly I was unaware of his battle with sickness. I recently lost my lovely wife Cindy and this news is especially hard on me. I can relate as a spouse what His Wife must be dealing with. Occasionally Cindy would recommend I take a break from my caregiving duties and I would go hill top Mobile. On one really incredible 17m opening Angelo and I were working some excellent long range DX. I really enjoyed that! Rest in Peace Angelo. 73
Last of the few genuine ham ops that followed the true
ham spirit code. Now he's sporting a new set of angel
wings.
73 and R.I.P. my friend.
Worked Angelo on 10 meters and 17 meters.
True gentleman, loved making contact with him
on my HTX 100 in early days on HF.
Kevin KC7ZOH
A really friendly ham and very pleasant to make QSO's with him.
I will miss him.
R.I.P. Angelo my friend.
I spoke to Angelo many times in the past
and our last qso was on 10 meters last
winter,Always a strong signal here with
superb booming audio.Angelo mentioned his
illness to me and i am deeply saddened to
hear of his passing. I sit here with a
lump in my throat thinking of Angelo from
Brighton Michigan.What a great guy and
true gentleman Angelo was and he will be
sadly missed.Rest in peace my friend we
will all miss you.
Seems like not that long ago that I again worked Angie.
He was ubiquitous on the air and was instantly
recognizable. He truly embodied the best of what the
ideal amateur radio spirit should be. He will be missed. A
qso with him was much more than a 5x9 goodbye.
Rest well my friend.
HE WAS ALWAYS FUN TO LISTEN TO AND HAVE A
QSO WITH WITH HIS " BIG VERTIICAL"
73 OM
He was great for the hobby and a good friend to talk and listen to. His voice will be missed on the air waves. He was a friend to many who never meet him.
RIP Angelo -- now it will be Everything Running
Normal forever -- 73 forever.....
Angelo was a friendly ham that all stations
enjoyed talking to. I had many qso's over the
years and always enjoyed the many stories that
Angelo told. I recall him telling about the
Elmac AF-67 which he designed if my memory is
accurate. The AF-67 was my first am mobile
transmitter back in the 50's. I will really miss
hearing his signal on 20 meters.
73 old friend.
I too was saddened to learn of Angelo's passing. He was a true gentleman and will be missed by many. RIP Angelo.
I was so sad to hear of Angelo passing. He was my very
first DX contact years ago. I had made a friend on the air
and continued to talk to him through the years. I
remember using his booming voice from Brighton to see if
my antenna was working properly. I used to always leave
my station parked on him and listen to him make contact
after contact around the world. A true gentlemen in the
Ham community. The air waves won't ever be the same
without him. RIP my friend!