Tony was very special to those who knew him. He was the master of the one-liner - he could make Henny Youngman blush! I met Tony 40+ years ago and he instantly became a celebrity on the repeaters with stories and wit. We traveled to Dayton Hamvention some 35 times over the years - that's a lot of travel time! When not at hamfests, Tony was fireman and a crack emergency communicator. Tony had some significant health issues, but he never complained - he just told more stories and jokes. That is a trait we all should strive to embrace. Keep up the wit and humor as you visit those hamfests on the other side!
We first met Tony in the late 1970s when he was
working at the IBM factory in Essex Junction VT for
Fairchild, a contractor. Tony was in residence at the
Radisson Hotel in Burlington VT. We will always
remember “Club 604” which was his room. He showed
up on the Mount Mansfield .94 repeater and quickly
became a fixture on the nightly “Hoot Owl” net.
Tony eventually moved into a townhouse in Essex
Junction and for several years he kept us entertained
and amused with his antics both on and off the air. To
say Tony was a characteris an understatement.
Tony had a very interesting sense of humour. Those of
us who knew him will know what I mean. Much of it went
over peoples heads if they didn’t know him. ‘Nuff said!
In the early Eighties Tony moved to Albany NY and
found employment with the State of New York as a
procurement agent purchasing electronics for the NY
State Police. His kitchen table was piled high with
Motorola radios that were sent to him for “evaluation”.
They are probably still there. In addition to his
procurement functions Tony was also a tour guide at the
NY State Capital Campus. Those tours mustnhave
been a riot.
“BEJ” quickly became a regular on the Capital District
area repeaters and it was always a part of the journey
through the area to stop and meet with him and his pals
for coffee or a meal. Tony could quickly raise a wrecking
crew at several area restaurants so a ham travelling
through would never have to eat alone.
Tony loved to attend hamfests especially Hosstraders
like Hosstraders, Rochester NY, Milton VT, Dayton and
NEAR-Fest. Along with Mitch, W1SJ, Tony never
missed the Dayton Hamvestion. To ensure his buddies
had rooms every year Tony booked the entire hotel. I
joined them a few times and the long drive to Dayton
and back was a very interesting and entertaining
experience as well as the hamfest itself. He would
“work” at the BatteryTech booth with his buddy Dave.
Tony was a master of the fine art of being in the right
place at the right time. One time flying home from FL he
managed to get a seat on the right side of the plane
where he witnessed a perfect shuttle launch. As a
member of the Loudonville NY Fire Police he went to
New York City just after 9/11 and even got to have a
couple meals on the cruise ship that was pressed into
service as a command center.
Tonk knew everybody and everybody knew and liked
Tony. He was totally in his element at any amateur radio
gathering. He was one very funny guy and he will be
sorely missed especially the funny faces and silly noises
he would make on certain occasions.
He was a real piece of work! They broke the mold when
they made T.
Ebbbbbbbbbbbbbb! Ira!
Only those who knew Tony will know what this means.
RIP my friend. You may be gone but never forgotten.
The Albany NY repeaters are now being returned to
normal amateur use.
I first met Tony at "the Pile" WTC 9/11. I was volunteering with the ARC and Tony was the ham at the pile when we arrived day 10 thru day 14. I spent a shift shadowing a ARC official at a responder respite center and Tony made a point of introducing himself and taking me to the pile. Later I saw him regularly at Rochester Hamfest and Hamvention. I am a Syracuse native and he knew everyone in Syracuse as he lived here for a time and also Utica NY. He also worked Empire Games for a few years and I saw him there.
A great guy and a great ham. He is missed.
73 de Walt N2IK