As far back as I can remember I had always been inquisitive about things mechanical and electrical. I think I destroyed many of my parents radios while trying to “fix” them. Before my teens I built a crystal set that I could use to listen to the Grand Ole Opry using a piece of wire tossed out of a window. Living near Buffalo, New York I thought that was fantastic.
During my second year of high school, circa 1954, I learned that the Prefect of Discipline, a Jesuit priest named John Sturm, was a ham with the call K2JS (SK). He was my Elmer and I got my Novice license with the call KN2SQQ. Due to other commitments I was not active and that license lapsed.
I never lost interest and I kept trying to relearn CW so I could be relicensed. I don’t know how many different code courses and tape lessons I went through. During college I also built some equipment for my future station, mostly Heathkit.
In my last year of college I found that I would be going to medical school so I had to get a license before that. I worked very hard at CW and theory and was able to earn my extra license with the call WB2WJF.
I tried CW on the air and decided it was not for me. Because of many life factors including school, cardiac surgical residency, children (4 boys}, and military service (Vietnam} I only operated intermittently. Despite that I worked lots of DX, ran innumerable phone patches for the overseas deployed and was net control for many traffic nets.
In 2023 while in a Zoom room with some locals I lamented that after all these years I was still no good at copying CW. Someone mentioned that he was in a CWA class and he thought I should give it a try. I took his advice and applied .
I was accepted for the fundamental class starting in Sep. 2023. My advisor was Buzz, AC6AC. Pre-class sessions began in August. and since Buzz was on vacation he arranged for co-advisors John W7JKC and Tracy WM6T to handle the festivities. Myself and several of the students that started in that class have recently been assigned CWops membership numbers.
Buzz and his co-advisors have been nothing but fantastic in their ability and dedication to helping us to become CWops. Since a lot of our group has been in fundamental, intermediate and advanced class together we have become friends. Buzz and the co-advisors have nurtured us and encouraged us in this entire journey. They should all be applauded: Buzz, AC6AC; John, WK7JKC; Tracy, WM6T; Marv, W5DT; Heather, AH7RF; Shirley, M0WXG; Rich, N4DPM. What a fantastic group!!!!
Other interests: Ocean fishing, hunting, sporting clays and trap shooting, small bore marksmanship, scuba diving, flying (instrument pilot), skiing and I’m still married to the girl I dated in high school. Some of these are now only in my mind. I’m getting on to my rocking chair days when ham radio will be front and center.
This biography is what appeared in Solid Copy when the member joined CWops.