Dr Ronald A. Parise, PhD, WA4SIR, passed away Friday May 9, 2008 after a very long and courageous battle with cancer. He was 57.

Parise flew as a payload specialist on two space shuttle missions: STS-35 on Columbia in December 1990 and STS-67 on the Endeavour in March 1995. These two missions, ASTRO-1 and ASTRO-2 respectively, carried out ultraviolet and x-ray astronomical observations, logging more than 614 hours and 10.6 million miles in space.

Parise was one of the first astronomers to operate a telescope from space, making hundreds of observations during the mission. Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) Chairman Frank H. Bauer, KA3HDO, said Parise’s personal contributions to these two missions provided scientists with “an unprecedented view of our universe, expanding our understanding of the birth, life and death of stars and galaxies.”

First licensed when he was 11, Parise kept Amateur Radio at the forefront of everything he did, including his operations from space. During his two shuttle flights, he spoke with hundreds of hams on the ground. He was instrumental in guiding the development of a simple ham radio system that could be used in multiple configurations on the space shuttle; as a result, his first flight on Columbia ushered in what Bauer called the “frequent flyer era” of the Shuttle Amateur Radio Experiment (SAREX) payload.

Parise was the first ham in space to operate packet radio. “His flight pioneered the telebridge ground station concept to enable more schools to talk to shuttle crew members despite time and orbit constraints,” Bauer said. “In his two shuttle flights, he inspired countless students to seek technical careers and he created memories at the schools and communities that will never be forgotten. Ron was also the ultimate ham radio operator — in space and on the ground.”

Bauer said that Parise’s love for Amateur Radio and his love of inspiring students continued well beyond his two shuttle flights: “During the formation of the ARISS program, Ron was a tremendous resource to the newly forming international team. I know of many instances where Ron’s wisdom and sage advice was instrumental in helping our international team resolve issues when we reached critical technical or political roadblocks. He was a key volunteer in the development of the ham radio hardware systems that are now on-board ISS. The ARISS team is deeply indebted to WA4SIR for his leadership, technical advice and tremendous vision.”

Parise worked hand-in-hand with the students at the US Naval Academy and Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University on the development of their student satellites. He helped develop Radio Jove, a student educational project to listen to the radio signals emanating from Jupiter. Parise spoke at numerous schools over the years, inspiring students to pursue careers in science, math and technology.

“Ron Parise was–and continues to be–an inspiration to countless students, ham radio operators, and friends the world over. His accomplishments were many, including space explorer, pioneer, astrophysicist, pilot, ham radio operator, avionics and software expert, inspirational speaker and motivator, student satellite mentor, husband, father and friend. While he certainly did some truly extraordinary things in his lifetime, Ron Parise is best known and cherished for keeping family and friends first, and for this, we will miss him most,” Bauer said.

In an effort to continue Parise’s work to inspire the next generation, his family has set up a scholarship fund in Parise’s honor for students pursuing technical degrees at Youngtown State University, Parise’s alma mater. In lieu of flowers, those interested are welcome to send donations to:

The Dr Ronald A. Parise Scholarship Fund
Youngstown State University
One University Plaza
Youngstown, OH 44555

It is with extreme sadness that I report that my friend since elementary school, Paul J. Parker, WB6DHH became a silent key on April 13, 2008. Paul succumbed to pancreatic cancer.

Paul was first licensed in January 1963, WN6DHH He was a life member of the ARRL and was elected Section Communications Manager for the East Bay Section of the ARRL in 1969. He was an active member of the Mt. Diablo Radio Club for nearly 40 years where he served as an instructor and volunteer examiner, as well as assisting with the operation of the W6CX repeater and Pacificon.

Paul loved the Morse code.

Paul’s memorial service will be held on Saturday, May 10th at 1:00 pm at East Bay Fellowship in the UTurn auditorium (youth building), 2615 Camino Tassajara, Danville , CA 94506 (map) . The church phone number is (925) 736-5100.

If you wish, in lieu of sending flowers, gifts to the American Cancer Society in Paul’s memory would be appreciated.

Paul’s ashes will be spread in the Pacific Ocean under the Golden Gate Bridge and in the Sea Otter Sound, Alaska

Jack Cooper, KG6LV
ARRL Pacific Division Assistant Director

from ARRL News:

L. B. Cebik, W4RNL, ARRL Technical Adviser and antenna authority, passed away last week. He was 68. An ARRL Life Member, Cebik was known to many hams for the numerous articles he wrote on antennas and antenna modeling. He had articles published in most of the US ham journals, including QST, QEX, NCJ, CQ, Communications Quarterly, Ham Radio, 73, QRP Quarterly, Radio-Electronics and QRPp. Larry Wolfgang, WR1B, QEX Editor, called Cebik “probably the most widely published and often read author of Amateur Radio antenna articles ever to write on the subject.”

Saturday, 23 March 2008, Chuck McConaghy’s/ WA6SYE wife Judy McConaghy/KB6HQI passed away. The ‘Celebration of Life’ service will be held next Saturday, March 29th at 10am at Cornerstone Fellowship, 348 North Canyons Parkway in Livermore (across from COSTCO). If you would like to attend you are more than welcome. Please keep Chuck and his family in prayer and thoughts during this very difficult time.

Alan Weisman (W5ALW)
1938-2008
“The inventor of the ‘T’ - top”

Alan Weisman, W5ALW, died on March 1, at age 70. He was a creative, accomplished inventor and the community servant. Among his inventions, Weisman was known for patenting the ‘T’- top found on American sports cars such as the Corvette. After college, Weisman was employed by the automobile manufacturer Saab before experiencing a work related accident. The following years of physical therapy, Weisman and his wife made their home in Richmond California where he undertook entrepreneurial ventures before establishing a second home in Tularosa, New Mexico near the White Sands Missile Range. At various times, he worked on projects for the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), designed and built one of the earliest flight simulators for the Bushnell Corporation, constructed working robots for use in Hollywood films, developed self-assembly methods for ‘growing’ tools, designed devices for preventing carpal tunnel syndrome, and most recently, worked on building a new type of hybrid engine. Weisman was involved in various community activities including serving on the Marin Amateur Radio Society board, acting as a Volunteer Examiner for amateur radio, and serving as a City of Richmond Commissioner as part of the sister city program with Shimada, Japan.

Weisman was an avid automotive hobbyist, whose accomplishments included building an electric motorcycle that eventually set a world land speed record for that type of vehicle. Al also enjoyed restoring classic cars. Weisman is survived by his wife, Sherry Hines, his brothers Howard Weisman and Bruce Weisman, three nephews and niece, and for grand nieces and grandnephews. An outgrowth of his work with NASA, Weisman’s dream was to have his ashes flown into space.

Randy Jenkins, KA6BQF

Vice President, VE Liason & Public Service Coordinator
Marin Amateur Radio Society
www.w6sg.net