W8MTC 1914 - 2010

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Mike on duty copying Navy Fox on the mill, aprox. 1950

Michael Serotko Newton Falls, OH QCWA # 06553

U.S. Veteran
Michael Serotko, age 95, of Newton Falls entered into eternal rest on Saturday February 20, 2010 at Laurie Ann Nursing Home. Michael was born on October 11, 1914 in Donora, PA, the son of John & Mary (Zenuh) Serotko. He has lived in Newton Falls his entire life.

Michael worked at Rockwell International as a steel worker, retiring in 1976. Michael was a veteran of the US Navy serving in WWII and the Korean War. He was a parshioner at St. Michael's Church in Newton Falls and a member of the ham operator's club, where his call sign was W8MTC. Michael enjoyed playing golf.

Memories of Michael will be carried on by his many neices and nephews, sister, Margaret Bisciglia of Austintown and brother, George & Vivian Serotko of Warren. Michael was preceeded in death by his parents, sisters, Mary Steel, Ann Musser, Betty Groves, Susie Serotko, and brothers, John, Dave, & Joe Serotko.

Calling hours for Michael will be held on Wednesday February 24, 2010 from 6:00 - 8:00 pm at James Funeral Home. Funeral services will be Thursday, 9:30 am at the funeral home and 10:00 am at St. Michael's Church. Michael will be laid to rest at St. Michael's Cemetery.

Serotko, Michael W8MTC *1914-2010* The Grand OM from Earlsville (Newton Falls, OH) has left us with the memories of friendly chats over the years, from Lipps Lower Level in Chicago, to the Ohio Penn Canal System. He was born in Denora Pa, the place of the infamous poisonous fog that plagued Denora in 1948. Always a good conversation and a man that enjoyed a good CW QSO.

Since Mike was ex U.S.N. in two wars, WW2 and Korea, he served two hitches. Because of that, Mike had certain convictions which were Red White and Blue. He in older years was tired and wanted to be with his mother and father.

Mike had the demeanor that I always wish I had, never heard him lambaste anyone on the air or otherwise. His comment on life was 'It Happens'.

When Mike attended Radioman School in Chicago during WW2, they were requesting radiomen for silent service, his good friend Jimmy Leo Thomas from Indiana volunteered and was never heard from again, it was suspected Jimmy's boat had been destroyed by another sub, Japanese in 1943. That proof of the sinking of the USS Corvina SS-226 came after the war. Mike had advised Jimmy's mother that they were friends and he revered their friendship and offered condolences.

Mike loved music and had a extensive record collection. He introduced me to The Ben Bernie Band and that was a long friendship chatting about those kinds of bands that Mike had heard in Chicago and other places in his life time. We had fun trading music and looking for rare songs on vinyl. Yowsah, Yowsah, as Ben Bernie said over the air, Mike and I enjoyed saying that too.

There were some good places to dine in the area and we especially enjoyed the Beef Stew from the Covered Bridge Inn at Newton Falls when Luigi operated the place, or the battered fried fish at the VFW Hall in Lake Milton. Then there was the Seniors Hall in West Farmington. Mike mentionedon our trips to Lake Milton how the bands played there during the 30s and 40s - Ben Bernie had appeared there and so did Perry Como and Dean Martin.

Serotko was very pleased with his Navy experience and once in a while would bring up the fact that they has sailed past a rare DX spot and took several pictures of the isolated place in the Southeast Pacific called Malpelo Island owned by Columbia. Both of us would eventually have that rare spot in our radio logs as a new one. Mike enjoyed 10 Meters, worked all zones and had a 5 Ele monobander on 10 with his secret weapon, the ground system going into the East Branch River.

Mike wouldn't run foreign equipment and won a hand held at a fester that he never put on the air, rather he preferred to use his Ten Tec. I purchased his hand key from the estate and count it a privilege to have met him top side. RIP old pal and DSW. His steady CW fist is truly missed. W8SU 2010

Out of the Tribune Chronicle circa 1949, Warren, Ohio
It was after WW2 because Mike was in the reserves for
several years after the big war. Thats Mike in the middle
using the straight key!


Taken in 1995 by W8SU, in the early days Mike operated from the garage area,
but in later years had his station on the closed in front porch area. The
Mahoning River is behind him and he left he always had a radio advantage because of it.


W8MTC took this photo of Mapelo circa 1950, it made DX Bulletin front page that Don
Chesser W4KVX published. Look how hot is is, no air conditioning on the old school vessels


W8MTC 1935 Newton Falls, Ohio


W8MTC 1952 USNR QSL Card


W8MTC 1960 Hamshack photo


Final resting place of Mike W8MTC, Newton Falls, Ohio


W8MTC 1949 Newton Falls, Ohio
United States Naval Reserve QSL Card