Rememberance

I decided to create a web log about my father to record the interests he had and the contributions he made in the Amatuer Radio world. When my father died on January 11, 2004, the amateur radio community responded very quickly in sending letters of condolence and personal rememberances of how my father helped others personally in their HAM endeavors and how they respected him as a person. The letters to our family helped lift a bit of the sorrow we felt. For me, the letters made me proud and made me smile with happiness that people cared so much about my father. Thank you very much everyone.!!

Janice

Comments

[Anna]

Thanks Janice for this nice rememberance to your dad. He is truly missed by many that knew him in ALL aspects of his life.

[Arne Gjerning N7KA]

Janice

I have a lot of very fond memories of Bob when I lived in the SF Bay area from 1972-1981. I visited his home in San Mateo many times and spent a number of hours in the "shack" in the back yard. Bob got me interested in EME and was instrumental in my obtaining the goal.

I got the parts and one day Bob and several others came to my home in San Jose to assemble my 2Meter EME array (just like the one in Bob's back yard). Bob took one look and said no way we could finish the job in one day.

We assembled the antenna on the roof of the house and by the end of the day there was a completed antenna sitting on a tower.

When an EME contest was getting close, Bob asked me if I was going to get on and I said probably not because my amplifier was not finished. He said to come by his home on the next Saturday. I did so and he loaned me an amp for the contest.

We had many conversations on 2 Meter SSB across the bay and I enjoyed each and every one of them.

I remember also operating from the Stanford Univ 150ft dish on EME with Bob and Bob Jr on two different ocassions.

I believe without a doubt that Bob was one of the very few hams who were instrumental in pioneering EME for the amateur.

I can not remember when Bob was not willing to help anyone who was really interested in EME and VHF/UHF interests. He was a friend to many and known of by so many more in our hobby.

Janice, your pictures of the early TV days are enjoyable becasue I also knew Bob Melvin and it was interesting to see both Bob's a youngsters. Your web site is very justified and I wish to thank you for the effort.

Arne N7KA

[Glenn Yoder]

Dear Janice,

I would like to make a comment about Bob's life during the period that I knew him, which was during the last 10 years of his life. I first met Bob at the American Diabetes Association Diabetes Support Group which met twice every month at the Peninsula Hospital in Burlingame.

Bob did not have diabetes, but he always made it a point to see that he and Prentist attended every meeting possible of this Group. He also went with Prentist whenever she had an appointment with a Diabetes Doctor and always did his best to learn the latest diabetes care so he could help Prentist with her treatment.

At times it seemed that Bob had a greater knowledge of diabetes than most of us in the Support Group. Everyone in our group marveled at the loving care and concern that Bob bestowed upon Prentist. Bob set an example for everyone in our Group as to what a spouse can do to help someone with long-term diabetes. We will all miss him.

GlennYoder@aol.com

[juan]

Con agrado he leido la cronica de la vida y obra de su padre, un verdadero pionero, debe usted sentirse verdaderamente orgulloso de su legado y continuar para los que vamos atras, en la efimera linea de la vida, su trabajo.Reciba un cordial saludo

[Lorraine Petitclerc]

I stumbled on the site and was amazed. Your dad was my cousin. I had lost track of him years ago. But I remember when we were kids, his family would visit his mom's mother in Santa Rosa, CA and we would get together for Thanksgiving dinners. He and I used to terrorize our parents by playing in the bulls pen and building tunnels in the baled hay stacked in the barn. How great it was to see pictures of him as I remember him. I do so hope you get this message.

Sincerely,

Lorraine Petitclerc

[John Badger]

Thank you for posting this Janice. My Father, George Badger (W6TC, ex W6RXW and Eimac veteran), just passed away last night, and I've been stumbling through the web looking for memories of him. I came across your site and found familiar photos and names. In fact, my father is in that moon shot photo. These guys had a real passion for HR and for building great tubes and antennas.

[janice]

you're welcome John. I had asked Marshall if he thought it was okay to post your dad's obit on my blog. I will add it.