Silent Keys
It is with a great deal of sadness to the amateur radio community as a whole, and the the members of our association, as this page is dedicated to our members who are now SILENT KEYS. Our thoughts and prayers are with them and their families.
May they rest in eternal peace.
Jerome W. Zink, Jr. (AB2B) 83 passed away Wednesday, February 21st at his son’s home under the care of hospice and family.
Jerome was born April 2, 1940 in Schenectady, NY, a son of Jerome W. Zink, Sr. and Margaret Catherine (Van Noske). After his education, he served in the Army Reserves and worked in the Capital District until starting a career at the General Electric Company in Schenectady where he held several positions before retiring in 1995 after more than 30 years of service. He continued staying active by driving school bus for Middleburgh, Schoharie, and Guilderland School District’s. He was an Amateur Radio Operator holding membership in the Schoharie County Amateur Radio Club and served as the Schoharie County Radio Officer. During his long membership with the club he held several offices. He wasan EC for Schoharie County, served as County ARES and RACES Officer, directed weekly training nets on 146.01/146.61, co-ordinated and ran the October "Pumpkin Patrol" back when we covered highway overpasses and had ops patrolling each town with a reserve police officer, put in many hours of EMCONN Service when the gas line at Breakabeen blew up, functioned as NECOS during some searches for missing hunters and hikers, worked on tower maintenance and painting of the original Firetower, participated in many Field Day operations, and served as a Volunteer Examiner. He also served as the trustee of the club call-sign, WR2AES, back when the FCC had special calls for repeaters.
~ A portion of the above is from Jerry’s obituary from Langan Funeral Home in Schoharie, NY. Click here for the full obituary.
~ A portion of the above is from Jerry’s friend, Tom Valosion (WB2KLD)
Ralph “Butch” Bunnell, Jr. (KD2FSM), passed away suddenly but peacefully on Tuesday, March 14th, 2023.
Ralph was born February 1, 1961, in Albany, NY, a son of Dorothy Elizabeth Richards and Ralph C. Bunnell, Sr. He graduated from Schoharie Central School and lived most of his adult life in Charleston. Ralph was a devine man doing no wrong through his walk of life. A licensed operator of Ham Radio and a member of the Schoharie County Amateur Radio Association, his enthusiasm for electronics stems from a young age. Removing circuit boards for inspection from TV’s and radios as a child catapulted him into not only a hobby, but a career. Ralph served for a number of years as the radio club’s Treasurer, retiring from the position shortly before his death. To honor our friend, our annual hidden transmitter event will now be known as the “Ralph Bunnell Memorial Foxhunt”. Ralph won the event the last three consecutive years of his life.
~ A portion of the above is from Ralph’s obituary from Langan Funeral Home in Schoharie, NY. Click here for the full obituary.
~ A portion of the above is from Ralph’s friends at the club.
Sanford M. Loucks Baer, (KC2IDX) 59, died unexpectedly on Tuesday, July 10, 2018. Born October 25, 1958 in Rockville Center, NY, . A Ham radio operator, he was a member of the Ham Radio Club and a collector of radios and cameras. While with the radio club he was involved in the county’s emergency management system. “Sandy”, as he was known to his radio friends, was a long time member of the club and served the as a Vice President followed by multiple terms as President.
~ A portion of the above is from his obituary from Mereness-Putnam Funeral Home. Click here to see the full obituary.
~ A portion of the above is from Sanford’s friends at the club.