Thanks, Dave. I only had one of those phone conversations, and one late night
solo chat in the hotel lobby at a CSVHF conference but Gene made me feel like
we were old friends. I liked his picture above TWA -- he was smiling
earnestly. 73, ZZ.
Tim K0PG
Dave Olean <k1whs@metrocast.net> wrote:
>I have had many telephone conversations with Gene over the years. I would
>pick up the phone thinking it was a customer only to have it turn out to be
>Gene Zimmerman with a query for his QST VHF column. There were never any
>short phone calls. They typically ran about an hour and a half with almost
>all of the talking done by Gene. I always marveled at how listenable his
>stories were. So much information , so many anecdotes. Gene was always a
>contester. I loved to hear his stories about lugging KW modulators up to
>large hilltops in the early 1960s for VHF contests. I remember hearing and
>working one of those early efforts, that of W1GB (W1 Good Boy) in
>Connecticut. Gene was a mover in that group. He achieved great status on HF
>as a contester as well. Gene was very active in all facets of ham radio.
> I always got a kick out of his VHF columns. There was much to read
>between the printed lines. At times the printed lines were a hoot as well.
>My favorite was his column with descriptions of each VHF conference in the
>USA. For each one, he had a list of where the good restaurants were! That is
>typical Gene.
> Gene was a student of propagation, and always tilted towards propagation
>in his columns. His phone calls always included some propagation tidbits as
>well. He always swore that Ray, W1REZ, had worked Portugal on 144 MHz in the
>early 50's from his place in Fairfield CT. That subject was the topic of one
>of our hour and a half phone conversations. He was very interested in tropo
>communications across the Atlantic and we discussed that subject at length
>many times.
> I will miss Gene's voice terribly. We have lost a great ham and a real
>personality. Gene used to visit Joel Knobloch at his shop in Gaithersburg,
>MD. Joel always used to tell me about Gene's visits. Poor Joel was so close
>to Gene' QTH, that he did not get phone calls like I did. Gene would just
>show up and hold court for hours, telling stories and destroying Joel's
>bottom line for the day. Joel loved it, and affectionately nicknamed Gene "
>Doctor Doom". Gosh, I am going to miss him. VHF and ham radio just became a
>bit poorer with Gene's passing.
>
>Dave Olean K1WHS
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: Dave Zeph
>Sent: Sunday, June 03, 2012 4:46 PM
>To: 'VHF Contesting' ; cq-contest@contesting.com
>Subject: [VHFcontesting] Gene Zimmerman, W3ZZ
>
>I'm saddened to hear of the passing of Gene Zimmerman, W3ZZ. Gene was
>devoted to Contesting. He spent many years on the CQ Contest Committee and
>a long stint writing the "The World Above 50 MHz" Column for QST.
>
>
>
>On a personal note - years ago as a young buck starting to make business
>trips to DC, Gene took me under his wing and took me to a number of the
>area's Contesters - W3AU, W4BVV and others. I never forgot this kindness.
>
>
>
>I'll also miss long the conversations with Gene. To say that Gene was an
>ardent conversationalist would still be an understatement. When asked for
>help or an opinion, Gene never held back.
>
>
>
>In this age of bland personalities, the loss of such a unique person as Gene
>is truly a tragedy. Rest easy now, Gene.
>
>
>
>
>
>73 --> Dave, W9ZRX
>
>
>_______________________________________________
>VHFcontesting mailing list
>VHFcontesting@contesting.com
>http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/vhfcontesting
>
>_______________________________________________
>VHFcontesting mailing list
>VHFcontesting@contesting.com
>http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/vhfcontesting
_______________________________________________
VHFcontesting mailing list
VHFcontesting@contesting.com
http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/vhfcontesting
|