Many hams have given so very much to our hobby. In their passing, it seems unfair to only remember them with a simple callsign listing in the pages of QST or a quick note in a club newsletter. We hope to provide a method by which you can remember amateur radio operators that have contributed to our hobby.
You may click on a box, below, to see more Friends details
Click FriendsMaster@eham.net to contact the Friends manager with issues, concerns or comments.
| James H Parsons KB7LIY |
Jim was not only my Elmer he was a near lifelong friend. We me at Arizona State University in the fall of 1981. He kindled my interest in ham and helped me along with picking out gear, programing it and setting it up. We were both active in the Civil Air Patrol and Jim was active in his church. He was a friend to me, a huge helper to my wife while I was on the road and an uncle to my daughter. Jim is greatly missed.
| Allen Taflove WA9JLV |
Sadly my Uncle Allen, WA9JLV lost his very short battle with cancer. He was a professor of electrical engineering and computer science at Northwestern University and a leading authority in the field of computational electrodynamics. He was also inducted into the CQ Amateur Radio Hall of Fame in 2011.
Good bye dear life long friend. Miss you so much.
| David (Dave) Digweed VE3FOI |
Dave was one of the first hams I met when I began to study for my license. He was a mentor and became a great friend.
Dave was always friendly and helpful. Even so, he was well known to stand up for what was right and not what was expedient. For years, Dave was very active on HF. He had a massive collection of QSL cards and was, for many years, one of Canada's QSL bureau coordinators. During that time he could be found at many hamfests distributing cards to those looking for them. His crowning achievement was the acquisition of a commercial grade tower and then mounting a military grade Mosley triband yagi! That monster was so big and heavy that it required a large crane to help put in place. (Poor Dave almost didn't survive his wife after the crane left deep indentations in her manicured lawns! LOL. Yes, she forgave him :-)
Dave was quite involved with public service in the area and was the Niagara Ontario area SATERN coordinator. His skill at traffic handling especially through SATERN was invaluable to many overseas emergencies and a local area emergency - The infamous Blizzard of 1977 that hit southern Ontario and western New York.
As Dave's health began to decline, he and his wife sold their country home to relocate to a townhome community where antennas were not permitted. HE said goodbye to HF and was limited to keeping up with his friends on the VHF repeaters. Eventually he was not going out very often and stopped going to most hamfests.
HE never missed the local hamfest and when he missed it in early 2020, for the first time in over 50 years, myself and others knew he was not well. He was heard less and less on the local repeaters and eventually went silent in early 2021 just a few weeks before becoming a SK.
Dave will be missed by everyone that he touched. 73 and 75 to my friend, Dave. Until we meet again.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Obituary of David James Digweed - https://bit.ly/3bl2yEq
Digweed, David James - Suddenly, on January 27th, 2021 at the St Catharines General Hospital at the age of 76 we lost a man whose caring, humour and good nature will shine on in the memories of all the people whose lives he touched.
Survived by the love of his life, Elaine and his son Brent. Brother of Mercia Naray. Godfather to Allison Stapleton and Caitlin Rumsby. Predeceased by his brothers Bill, Tom and sister Margaret. David was an active member of the Niagara Peninsula Amateur Radio Club and a retired millwright from General Motors. David shared his love of God with his family and many friends from The Salvation Army and St. Anns Community Church over the years. David also will be notably missed by his fellow community members. Cremation has taken place and he will rest at the Lane Cemetery in St. Anns. In lieu of flowers David wishes donations to be sent to the Salvation Army Family Services in your community.
| Bram Bottema SM0FLY |
Bram Bottema SM0FLY (PA0BRM) a great human being, friend and an outstanding engineer with a good sense of humor.
| Bruce A. Halverson WB0RQV |
I only met Bruce on air one time - but your very first QSO as a ham is always memorable. March 12, 1976. He was signing WN0RQV, while I was WN0RXL. He was very patient with my nervous code sending and inability to receive very well due to - again, nerves. But we both persisted - each in our own way - and I know I was thrilled with the 30 minute contact. While looking through my logbook I decided to research his call. Unfortunately I discovered he had passed away back in 2019. I learned he had been an Industrial Arts teacher for many years. (Which probably explains his patience with me during that contact.)
Thank you for the memory, Bruce. 73. John-WB0RXL
| Steven L FINBERG W1GSL |
It is with deep sadness and regret that I report the passing of Steve Finberg, W1GSL, of Cambridge Massachusetts, the founder and Benevolent Dictator of the “Swapfest, the Flea at M.I.T.” who became a Silent Key on Friday, April 23rd 2021 just before 7:00 PM.
Steve started the famous Massachusetts Institute of Technology electronics flea market in 1985 and ran it up continuously until October 2019. That was 35 years, 8 shows a year, always the third Sunday of the month, April through October. I don’t recall it ever being canceled. An outstanding accomplishment! “The Flea” produced many amazing treasures over the years, things you would find nowhere else. You never know what you will find at “M.I.T.”, an event that was highly popular with amateur radio operators and electronics enthusiasts in the Northeast. “Chip” Cohen, W1YW, inventor of the fractal antenna said that he bought all the test equipment and parts he needed at the M.I.T. Swapfest to invent his revolutionary antennas when he was first starting out.
Steve was a long-time analog electronics engineer at Charles Stark "Doc" Draper's lab at MIT and the holder of several patents. He was still working at Draper Labs at the time of his passing. Steve was an intensely private man and not much is known about his life outside of his work at Draper and M.I.T. I know he would probably not approve of all this attention but the fact that he was so high profile and popular at most amateur radio hamfests and flea markets in the eastern United States makes it necessary.
In addition to his work with The Swapfest, he also compiled and produced the bi-weekly New England Flea Market list for over 30 years. He was a very familiar figure in his signature red sports shirt and straw cowboy hat at hamfests anf flea markets for many years all over the east coast and as far south as Orlando FL distributing his famous list along with the Flea at M.I.T. promotional flyers.
Steve was a personal friend for many years and was a knowledgeable source of information on New England hamfests and electronic flea markets. His deep wisdom, advice and wise counsel were invaluable to me when we started the New England Amateur Radio Festival, aka NEAR-Fest at Deerfield NH, in 2007.
In 2009, Steve was awarded the NEAR-Fest Lifetime Pass Award for his contribution to the advancement of the hobby in New England.
https://www.telegram.com/entertainmentlife/20161004/mits-flea-market-specializes-in-rare-obscure-electronics
Unfortunately, there were no M.I.T. flea markets in 2020 and it doesn’t seem there will be very many or possibky none this year as well. However, the radio clubs at M.I.T. and Harvard University, (the MIT Radio Society, the MIT UHF Repeater Association, the MIT Electronics Research Society and the Harvard Wireless Club) beneficiaries of the “Flea” since the beginning will be resuming the event as soon as conditions allow it. First one is tentatively scheduled for August 15th 2021. The Web site is
https://w1mx.mit.edu/flea-at-mit/
Definitely the end of an era. Thank you Steve for all those wonderful fleas and the lists.
May he rest in peace.
73,
Michael Crestohl, W1RC/VE2XL,
“Mister Mike”,
Benevolent Dictator,
New England Amateur Radio Festival,
aka “NEAR-Fest” at Deerfield NH
| John Fairbanks KC0GTG |
John Duane Fairbanks of Hutchinson, Kansas
December 25, 1960 - March 5, 2021
John Duane Fairbanks
John Duane Fairbanks, 60, went home to be with his Lord and Savior at Hospice House of Reno County, Hutchinson, Kansas on March 5, 2021. On December 25, 1960, John was born in Hutchinson, Kansas to Curtis and Mary Fairbanks. John married the love of his life Bernadette on September 18, 2007. He was a lifelong radio enthusiast and gained the achievement as an extra class operator with the call sign " KC0GTG". John will be dearly missed.
Survivors include: his wife, Bernadette Fairbanks; and his brothers, Mark ( Dena) Fairbanks, Paul ( Kimberly) Fairbanks, and Daniel ( Debbie) Fairbanks; son, Gene Morgan; daughters, Becky King, and Angie Smith
John was preceded in death by his parents and daughter, Layla Morgan
Visitation will be on Saturday, March 13, 2021 from 10:00 a.m. to Noon, at the Fairfield Inn, 1111 North Lorraine Street, Hutchinson, Kansas with a service to follow after the visitation.
Best Friend any person could ever have,
Until We Meet Again Brother Love Ya!
| Harold (Aitch) White G4LFB |
Joe loved 6m and was a true 6m pioneer. Dedicated to his family and his business of SWS Communications.
| Andy Stillinger WA2DKJ |
It is with great saddness that I must report my longtime dear friend Andy, WA2DKJ has passed away.
Here is the link to the obituary:
https://www.tributearchive.com/obituaries/20102491/Andrew-M-Stillinger
Here is the obituary:
Andrew M. Stillinger, a lifelong Chatham Township, NJ resident, died suddenly of natural causes on Tuesday, February 23, 2021 at his home. He was 57. The Facts: Andy was born in Summit to his loving parents, Dorothea and Frank Stillinger on May 23, 1963. He was raised in Chatham with his sister, Connie, and was a graduate of Chatham High School. He went on to study engineering and earn his bachelor’s degree at Lehigh University. Andy chose to return to Chatham after college.
Andrew’s lifelong thirst for knowledge and love for adventure led him to a career in research engineering with NJIT in Newark. He was a member of The Center for Solar & Terrestrial Research, a role which required him to travel to what would become his favorite place on the planet, Antarctica. He performed the maintenance and critical repairs required to keep foundation’s sensitive research and monitoring equipment located in the south pole operational. He spent eight seasons from November through the end of January in Antarctica working at McMurdo, South Pole and further inland. Andrew’s well-versed knowledge mechanics and engineering married together with his excellent improvisational skills made him an integral part of the team. Andrew was talented at improvising with whatever materials were available, which were scant, to make the necessary repairs to the equipment. On one occasion while Andy was departing the plane he had arrived on in Antarctica, he crossed paths with Apollo 11 astronaut, Buzz Aldrin, who was taking his “bucket list” trip to the continent. One never knew who you could run into at the bottom of the world.
Andrew was an avid Ham radio enthusiast. Starting in sixth grade he eagerly joined this unique group of folks. A longtime member of the New Providence Radio Club, Andy participated in many Field Day events with the club and later operated out of his yard with a team of diehard hams. He resurrected the Ham radio station located on Antarctica, which was defunct for thirty years, to the delight of fellow enthusiasts. He enjoyed connecting with people throughout the world and was always eager to check another country off of his list.
Andrew was a member of the Porsche Automobile Club of America. He was highly knowledgeable and skilled at mechanical repairs to Porsche engines and all the mechanical systems of the sports car to the degree that he had a few private clients whose vehicles he worked on as mechanic.
Andy loved the outdoors and could be found trekking the Great Swamp CMA as well as The Sparta Glen and Kittatinny State Park in Sussex County with his trusted companion, Biscuit. He was a member of the Great Swamp Watershed Association and he personally helped to build many bridges in the CMA on Tiger Lily Lane over streams and brooks for hikers, birdwatchers and the critters to enjoy.
Andy is survived by his beloved parents, Frank and Dorothea Stillinger of Chatham Township; his sister, Constance “Connie” Stillinger and her husband, Ted Alper; his nephews, Morris & Henry; his longtime companion, Nicole Francoeur of Sparta; and many dear friends and colleagues.
Due to the Stillinger family’s concern for everyone’s well-being, funeral services for Andrew were held privately for his family. A celebration of Andrew’s life will be held at a later date to be announced. Funeral arrangements were under the care of the Madison Memorial Home.
The Reality:
As we are were all trying to find the words to write and came up empty handed because Andy was so much more than the facts above, this is a compilation from friends and family:
Andy Stillinger was the kind of luddite that didn't ever use his flip phone except to tell you he'd arrived at your home (during COVID), and then he'd turn it off by removing the battery and not use it again for days or weeks. He had the heart of a giant, the humility of a snowpea, and the sense of humor of a corny, eyeroll-and-groan inducing dad, despite not having had any children. He helped when he saw someone in need whether he knew them or not, and he did so without any expectation of repayment.
Andy believed there was a right way to treat people and that being human was enough qualification. This especially applied to dogs. There was an instant connection that was made with pretty much every creature has encountered. From his childhood pets to his dogs Buckley and Biscuit, Andy had a way with the four leggeds. Even thought Nicole rescued Biscuit from 11th Hour without Andy’s knowledge, these two formed a bond that was solid and true and made Andy Biscuits #1 person.
Andy had his own shorthand for the mundane. If you asked him what he wanted for lunch, he'd say, "large food, medium beverage." If you told him you were off to take a shower, he'd command you to "put it back when you're done." He didn't play "catch," he played "throw," because sometimes you miss one or two, but you weren't likely to "miss" when pitching. He was the kind of guy that would give you the plain white t-shirt off his back if you needed it; he'd likely just grab another from his vast collection.
A true gentleman in every sense of the word, Andy would move heaven and Earth for those that he let in and came to love. A man of few words, the ones he spoke were thoughtful and heartfelt. If he couldn’t articulate himself verbally, his actions shined through. From finishing off a radio project for dying radio club friend so he could see it completed to painting the gallery ceiling at Peter’s Valley School of Craft with Nicole because it was the “their” project of the year, Andy would leave a little bit of himself everywhere and with everyone he met. His tenderness with the old and the young would make you pause to take in his humanity. A simple gesture like zipping Nicole’s father coat because he couldn’t due to Parkinson’s was par for the course with out friend.
He stuck out like a sore thumb in his town of Chatham and this gave him a sense of mischievous satisfaction. He believed things, especially old things, had value and were worth restoring and repairing despite our "upgrade and discard" economy. He loved going to the South Pole every year, and regaling friends and family with his stories of working at McMurdo Station. Andy would be that guy in a t-shirt and jeans, flip flops, with no gloves on, talking about the "lovely balmy weather" they were having at -125 degrees.
You wouldn't believe one person could be so brilliant, so magnanimous, and so humble. If you'd never met Andy, you wouldn't believe a man like him really existed. Even now, he seems like a unicorn. But he was real, and if you were incredibly fortunate to have known him, then you would understand. That was Andy. He was one in a few million.
Please refrain from sending flowers to the house. A more meaningful gesture would be to make a donation in Andy’s name to the environmental or animal rescue group of your choice. The Great Swamp Watershed Association was a personal favorite as well as 11th Hour Rescue where his dog, Biscuit, was rescued from.
| Dave Pruett K8CC |
Dave was a very significant contributor to the contesting community. He was a long-time member and past president of the Mad River Radio Club, author of the NA contesting logging software, a log checker for the ARRL 10 Meter and 160 Meter contests, and chairman of the Michigan QSO Party. He built and operated, both as single-op and multiop, a very competitive contest station in Ypislanti, Michigan.
https://www.uhtfuneralhome.com/obituaries/David-Alan-Pruett?obId=19477910
|
To build the largest and most complete Amateur Radio community site on the Internet - a "portal" that hams think of as the first place to go for information, to exchange ideas, and be part of what’s happening with ham radio on the Internet. eHam.net provides recognition and enjoyment to the people who use, contribute, and build the site. This project involves a management team of volunteers who each take a topic of interest and manage it with passion. The site will stand above all other ham radio sites by employing the latest technology and professional design/programming standards, developed by a team of community programmers who contribute their skills to the effort. The site will be something of which everyone involved can be proud to say they were a part. The eHam.net Team, Revision 07/2020. |
