On 2012-11-20, at 12:22 PM, Bert Barry wrote:
I have just learned this morning that Rod Newkirk, VA3ZBB/W9BRD died last
night.
Old time DX'ers will remember the column How's DX - by Rod Newkirk W9BRD
which appeared monthly since some time in the 1940's until the 1970's.
About 20 years or so ago on 40m CW, Rod, W9BRD worked Betty, VE3ZBB. Skeds
followed. Then letters. Then visits. Then marriage, and a move to Ottawa
for Rod where he has lived for about 20 years, obtaining the call VA3ZBB. He
also retained his old call W9BRD.
Rod has been in poor health and living in a constant-care facility for
several years, with daily visits by Betty. They were a great couple, and
regularly attended our weekly QCWA breakfasts for many years. We will miss
him!
Hi Bert,
Many thanks for that note...very sad news, indeed.
I grew up reading How's DX? in QST---I especially loved his ...continued
adventures of grommethead schultz. Those stories were rip-roariously funny to
me. I especially liked the one about Schultz losing his mind over the fact that
he'd misplaced the details of ...expeimental antenna no. 9: Strongest NA
signal, bar none! and, You interfere with Thailand QRO phone net! were
written on letters he'd received, days after discarding the details of his
wunderkind aerial...
And then there was the DX Hoggery Poetry Depreciation Society, the contents
of the poems therein being probably even MORE applicable now than when they
were first written...!
R.I.P. Rod, thanks for the wonderful memories...
~73~ de Eddy VE3CUI - VE3XZ
___
Topband reflector - topband@contesting.com