I don't often check this email address these days and so I'm I bit
behind on the latest WinterFest news.
Alas, Don's time has come.
I sat with Don and Donna at the 2017 banquet and learned of his
challenge. When he was too ill to make it to the last (2018) WinterFest,
I got in touch with Donna, and she kindly invited me to visit their home
in Annapolis, which of course was an invitation too great for an Aussie
who had never been to that part of the world to pass on!
I enjoyed touring the town with Don and Donna, eating seafood and having
a great time hanging out. Don's shack intrigued me; he had a Wellbrook
active loop set up inside which he could rotate by hand from his chair -
very cool!
It was evident from my time with Don and Donna that both were people of
great faith, so I'm sure Don is out there somewhere getting some great
catches on whatever is on the bands in that other dimension.
Cheers,
Mark
------ Original Message ------
From: "TRACY WOOD" <[email protected]>
To: [email protected]
Cc: "JOHN FIGLIOZZI" <[email protected]>; [email protected]
Sent: Friday, 18 Jan, 2019 At 12:26 AM
Subject: [Swlfest] Don Ruokonen K3PRN , Former Fest Attendee (SK)
Fellow DXers and Friends of the SWL Winterfest:
We lost a good friend of the radio hobby this past week with the passing
of Don Ruokonen, K3PRN, on Saturday (12 Jan). Don resided with his wife
Donna, in Annapolis, Maryland. Don was a long-time ham radio enthusiast,
achieved DXCC, and became very proficient with PSK31 to raise his
country counts.
On the shortwave front despite that traditional fondness for the vacuum
tube radios of youth that many of us retain, Don sought out those modern
digital technologies that enhance today’s hobby. He really enjoyed
hunting down stations on his Elad DSP spectrum display, ran a fully
digital SWL/Ham station and expertly sought out those few extra dB’s
despite his urban RF surroundings.
I first met Don at the Winterfest several years ago after giving my talk
on Ku TVRO satellites. He drilled me afterwards to learn some more
subtle points. When I later moved to Maryland, he approached on
continuing that TVRO project. I quickly became good friends with Don and
Donna. We did get that small dish set up to receive Hispasat despite the
many neighborhood trees. Don, in turn, showed me the finer points of
amateur radio such as different software programs to run and how to
successfully operate through limited antenna-space restrictions.
Don had a refreshing, straight-forward, perspective about him. You
quickly knew where he stood on an issue whether it was technology or
politics. He proved to be a true “Elmer” (radio teacher) that we all
seek out in the hobby. Don Ruokonen will be truly missed as part of the
Winterfest, the greater shortwave listening hobby, and indeed as a
friend.
The obituary with photo is here:
https://www.legacy.com/obituaries/capitalgazette/obituary.aspx?n=donald-ruokonen&pid=191272904
<https://www.legacy.com/obituaries/capitalgazette/obituary.aspx?n=donald-ruokonen&pid=191272904>
Tracy Wood (K7UO)
Odenton, Maryland. _______________________________________________
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