Two Amateur Radio Luminaries Become Silent Keys

Wayne Green, W2NSD (SK), Publisher of ‘73’

Wayne Green, W2NSD/1,
at the 1987 Dayton
Hamvention. (Photo
courtesy Joe Eisenberg,
K0NEB)

            One of amateur radio’s most colorful and controversial raconteurs died Friday, September 13, “in a peaceful, painless transition from this life on Earth,” according to a posting on Wayne Green, W2NSD’s, “Wayne’s World” website <http://bit.ly/1aO0kdp>.            “An eternal optimist, and one who loved to share his never-ending zest for life, he was a friend to many and will be missed greatly. Wayne was not afraid of dying and was very much ready to embark on his next great adventure to the afterlife.” He was 91.

            Green’s publishing career included editorship of CQ magazine before going on to found 73, 80 Micro, Byte, CD Review, Cold Fusion, Kilobaud Microcomputing, RUN, InCider, and Pico. He published books, as well.

            Wikipedia noted Green was “involved in a number of controversies and disputes in the ham radio world, notably with the ARRL and CQ magazine,” <http://bit.ly/197muBJ>.

            As recently as 2011, Green lived in a farmhouse in Hancock, New Hampshire “and maintained a website with content from his on-line bookstore,” the site said.

            In the early 1980s he “assisted in the creation of the groundbreaking Brazilian micro-computing magazine, Micro Sistemas.”

Jack Althouse, K6NY (SK), President of Palomar Engineers

            Jack Althouse, K6NY, president of Palomar Engineers – of one of amateur radio’s foremost providers of ferrite and powdered-iron toroidal cores, baluns and balun kits, antennas and accessories – died of a massive stroke Sunday night, September 15. He was 90.

            In a widely-distributed email, it was reported “the family is grieving but holding their own. We are sorry to break this news to you.”

            In addition to being a successful businessman and talented engineer based in Escondido, California, Althouse was a prolific writer, having been published in many amateur radio books and magazines.

            In an email in July, Althouse said he had eliminated 90 percent of Palomar’s toroid line. “I've moved to an independent living facility where I have no space for a big stock. So now we are a balun kit company selling just a few ferrite toroids . . . reason for the move? Semi-retirement now that I am 90.” 

            In announcing Althouse’s death, the email noted: “It will take some time for the family to decide what to do about Palomar – sell, dissolve, or keep it going. We are asking if you have any outstanding orders with Palomar to please cancel them.  If you have ordered something from Palomar, we will do our best to locate your order and either refund your money or ship the items to you, however it will be several weeks before that we will be able to figure what is what. If you charged something and did not receive it, please send us the invoice number for your order.  We ask that you be patient.  In the meantime, Palomar is closed for business and will not be taking any further orders at this time. If you need to email please use this email <palomareng@gmail.com> as the other ones will be closed soon.”

            In closing, the email thanked the amateur radio community for its support Palomar Engineers.