John Wasiloff, AD8G and formerly
WB8ZXF, passed away on January 27,
2017 from complications of Alzheimer’s
at age 79. Like so many of us, John
started off in CB radio using a handle
of 17W1256. After passing his ham
exams he became an avid DX'er and
achieved DXCC early in his radio
career. He also was an active long-
term member of Navy MARS. John was an
avid attendee of the Dayton
Hamvention, going for over thirty
consecutive years. He was known as
“Sam” to his close friends because of
his Yosemite Sam mustache.
John had a large number of interests
outside of ham radio as well. He was a
drag racer, having set multiple track
records at various race tracks in
Ohio. He built cars, rode motorcycles,
was a musket shooter, loved steam
engines, cigars, organ music and was
an audiophile. If we moved one of his
speakers even a small amount he could
immediately detect the sound
difference upon entering the room.
He was an aircraft mechanic in the US
Air Force and became a life member of
the Confederate Air Force in the late
'70's with the rank of Colonel. (The
CAF, now known as the Commemorative
Air Force, restores and flies WW II
aircraft for historical purposes.)
Each year since John would go to the
CAF facility in Texas for up to a
month to work on aircraft prior to
their annual air show. John was
retired from J&L Steel after 37 years
of service. He was financial sponsor
on a restored B-25 bomber.
John was an unique individual. He had
no problem telling you what he thought
on any subject and calling him "blunt"
is a big understatement. :-) But you
always knew where you stood with him.
And on a moment's notice, he would
drop whatever he was doing and come to
help you out even if you didn't ask
him to. He just knew where he could
help out and he always did.
God Speed, John.
I knew John from many years ago as part of the Parma Radio Club. John was one of the many hams who helped me get started in Amateur Radio way back when I was a tall skinny high school kid. When I went to my first ham fest in 1977, John gave me a ride there and back, and helped advise me on the purchase of a receiver that would become my station receiver as a Novice.
Was he blunt? Yep. You always knew where he stood on an issue. But he had a big heart and he was always there to help if you needed it. John was definitely one of the "good guys".
Thanks, John! I wouldn't be where I am today in amateur radio without your help and guidance starting off!
We found a few better pictures that more
accurately reflect John than his driver's
license photo above.
And one last one from our years at Dayton,
since it's only a month away now.
John is the second ham in our close group to become an SK.
John was preceded by another close friend Denny, N8ACF.
I miss both of my friends very much and think of them often.
As Ray, WB8NXR, so appropriately stated above, John was "one of a kind".
In the early days, John, Denny, Ray and myself rarely missed a ham fest
sometimes driving several hours to get there.
In later years Dayton was the only ham fest we attended and we all looked
forward to it. On the Sunday after returning from Dayton, Denny would
always announce, "Only 365 days until Dayton".
I miss sitting with John in the flea market people
watching and listening to him tell stories of his early days
racing motorcycles. I actually met John before I became a ham at,
of all places, the drag strip. Back in the early 60's John used
to race a 48 Ford Prefect gasser call "IT". The car had set several
class records and rarely did John walk away without the class trophy.
As the 60's came to a close things started to change and John sold
the car. Between work, military and family, I lost touch with him.
Then, one day I heard a familiar voice on the local CB channel.
It took me a while to place it. Then it hit me where I remember the
voice from. To confirm, I called John by his then CB handle and we began talking.
I said his voice was familiar but, I couldn't place it.
He said, "well, if you ever went to the drag strip, I used to
race a hot rod". That's all it took. We must have talked for several
hours. As it turned out, John was only living about five minutes
from where I lived at the time. Well, the rest is pretty much history.
Denny and I had worked at the same company together. We both started out in CB.
We met Ray after becoming hams. The four of us started going to
Dayton together as a group that lasted for well over thirty years.
John stopped making the annual trip because of hip problems about
8 years ago. I miss those times when all four of us would be sitting
in the room talking about what we were looking for over pizza and
a few 807s. Ray and I toast both Denny and John while at
Dayton and remember the great times we all had together. Good DX to the
both of you and know that we think of you often.