RAYMOND T. BITLEY, KD4FZO, SK
Dr. Ray Bitley, KD4FZO, became a Silent Key on April 27, 1999. He was 55.
Ray had many friends, but due to his quiet and self-effacing manner, few knew of his many achievements. Born in Rochester, NY, he did his undergraduate work at the State University of New York-Binghampton and worked in Michigan for several years. He then returned to school, earning the PhD from the University of North Carolina in 1980, and subsequently taught at the University of New Hampshire, Wesleyan College, and other academic institutions.
In recent years, he served as a consultant to the Centers for Disease Control and several private consulting firms. His diligent research and thoughtful analysis made major contributions to projects for improving the economy of New Orleans, Macon, and a multi-county region of North Georgia. He was part of a team consulting to a Fortune 500 company planning a new facility that would generate as many as 3,000 new jobs. He was also principal of a startup firm making a specialized video camera for underwater applications such as search and rescue and swim coaching.
When in graduate school, Ray developed Hodgkin’s Disease. It was cured, but with severe damage to his heart and lungs which ultimately led to congestive heart failure. He had recently had several bouts with pneumonia. As Ray had successfully risen above other equally serious health challenges, however, his passing came as a shock and great sadness to his friends. He is survived by his wife, Linda, Head of Collections for the Atlanta History Center.
I used to call Ray "Mr. Fahzoo," a takeoff on his call sign. His intelligent conversations are missed by me and the many others he befriended on the Atlanta Radio CLub repeater. 73 OT