Monday, June 14, 2021

Milestones: W1OUN, YV5AM, SKs

Gordon Pettengill, W1OUN, a physicist, radio-astronomer and former director of the Arecibo Observatory in Puerto Rico, became a Silent Key in May at age 95. According to the ARRL Letter, Pettengill joined the staff at Arecibo when the facility opened in 1963 and became director in 1968. He was the principal investigator on two missions to Venus and helped make the Arecibo dish available to hams for moonbounce work.

Former IARU (International Amateur Radio Union) Region 2 President Reinaldo Leandro, YV5AM, also passed away in May. He was 79. A Venezuelan lawyer and diplomat, Leandro was posted to a variety of countries around the world during his 36-year career. He held various posts in the IARU Region 2 organization (representing the Americas) and served as its president from 2007-2019. According to the Region 2 website, he also was part of the IARU delegation to World Radiocommunication Conferences (WRCs) in 2008 and 2011.