I crossed paths with Bud Vittoriano in the mid 1980s while working at RCA in Camden, New Jersey. I was a green, wet-behind-the-ears Quality Control guy, and Bud was one of the senior Contract Assurance people working for the US Government. He was the customer’s representative, making sure that RCA’s government contracts were fairly fulfilled. Bud was a man that you quickly looked up to, and he had a tough-but-fair reputation and boundless integrity. As I gradually got to know Bud he shared with me his interest in ham radio. I learned that he held the Extra Class license and had been involved with ham radio, well, since forever. When I knew him he was in his late 50s, an energetic, compact, dapper man, always well dressed, carrying an attache and moving fast. He had a magnificent booming laugh and merry eyes.
Career paths drew us apart after a few years. I never forgot one of his life lessons that he gave me one day as we sat drinking a coffee at RCA. Just a memorable turn of phrase: “...we grow up, go out into the world to be a tiger.”. Bud exemplified that idea and he lived it.
More than 30 years later I became interested in ham radio again. When I learned the term ‘Elmer’ I remembered Bud. After taking a few ham radio license tests I wanted to look him up, to remind him how he had sparked this interest and to let him know how well his influence had taken hold. Maybe we could even swap a few dots and dashes on the air. I was sad to discover that his key fell silent in spring of 2014, just one month after the passing of his beloved wife, after 64 years of marriage. I sharply regret missing a last chance to sit with him again and talk and reminisce.
Thanks, Bud. There are too few like you.