HF design pioneer and CQ author Warren Bruene, W5OLY, passed away in late September at age 96. Bruene was one of the people "behind the scenes" at Collins Radio and later at Rockwell Collins, working on many aspects of HF design during a 44-year career. According to the ARRL Letter, he held 22 patents and was a prolific writer. Bruene's most recent article for CQ - "How a Few Elmers Unknowingly Changed the World" - appeared in our August 2013 issue.
Retired British diplomat Robert
Ford, ex-AC4RF, died in London at age 90. According to the ARRL Letter,
he operated from Tibet from 1948 until China took it over in 1950. He was
responsible for starting the Tibetan government's shortwave station, Radio
Lhasa. Ford spent five years imprisoned in China for "radio
espionage," and later served in a variety of postings for the British
Diplomatic Service. He retired in 1987.
Still alive and active at age 96
- but stepping down from a longtime position as Wireless Room Manager aboard
the Queen Mary museum ship - is Nate Brightman, K6OSC. Newsline reports
that Brightman, who established the W6RO club station and has served as its
manager for 34 years, cited a recent illness and his age as reasons for
retiring. The new W6RO station manager is David Akins, N6HHR.
