Richard L. Donner, WA6KYR, Silent Key
With great sadness we report the passing on July 12, 2024, of Richard L. Donner, WA6KYR, 79, following a long battle with prostate cancer.
Richard became a ham in 1960, and qualified for his general class license the following year, while still in high school. He then went to UCLA, where he received a degree in engineering in 1967, earned a Master’s degree in 1972, and began a long and successful career as an educator.
He got even more active in our hobby and our club following his retirement in 2010, and especially enjoyed operate portable stations for SOTA (Summits On The Air) contacts, usually via Morse Code QRP (low power).
He also built beautifully crafted AM crystal radios, which he described in a 2023 presentation to W6SD that is available on YouTube.
W6SD sends our condolences to his wife, Andrea, who made it possible for Richard to continue to enjoy ham radio despite his illness, and to his family.
John Peyser, KM6LBW, Is Honored With Bill Stein Award
John Peyser, KM6LBW, was honored with the Bill Stein Award at the W6SD Annual Holiday Dinner on Dec. 10, 2023. The award was presented by club president Alex Auerbach, K6AUR.
John received the award in recognition of his volunteer activity in support of the club’s Field Day activity in June of 2023. He will also serve as Technical Vice President of W6SD in 2024.
The award notes that it is presented “in recognition of outstanding service to The San Fernando Valley Amateur Radio Club (W6SD) as exemplified over many years by William “Bill” Stein, KC6T (SK).”
John is the first recipient of what will be an annual award named for Bill Stein, KC6T (SK), which was established with the support of Bill’s family and friends.
Bill, who passed away in February of 2023 at the age of 87, was a longtime and valued member of our club, whose service in recent years notably included overseeing the annual election of club officers.