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Camilo A. 'Cam' Castillo El Dorado, Panama QCWA # 26469 |
In July 8th HP1AC, Camilo Antonio Castillo Rodriquez "Cam", has become a Silent Key due to a cerebral hemorrhage. Born in Ciudad de Panama February 23, 1939 Cam was known as "the 'grand old man' of Panamanian ham radio for many years." Cam was first licensed in 1957 and was 'a fervent CW fan and was active right up until the end', remembers K3ZO, Fred Laun, who heard Cam during last week's RAC - Canada Day Contest. HP1AC was your editor's first Panama QSO in the 15 meter CW Novice Band in early 1978. Fred recalls his first QSO with Cam back in 1975, when Fred was W9SZR/3. 'Cam will be missed by his many admirers throughout the hemisphere and beyond', says Fred.
Information received from Bernie, W3UR Daily DX.
Camilo Castillo-HP1AC-in the memory
Enrique Preciado F. - HP1IBF - epreciado@cwpanama.net
I can't but consider myself lucky to have met Camilo Castillo - HP1AC. It couldn't be any other way because since I've been lucky the fire of passion for radioafition inside my burned with the most intense flame that bonfire can conceive. I also have no doubts that Camilo ignited the radio passion of many of my radio amateur friends, especially members of the Radio Club of Panama. His death has caused us a deep dismay.
His high print, thin, always came accompanied by a deep look and a movement of hands. A subtle morning because it was his eyes and hands that spoke. His innocuous quality was his humility that collided with his overwhelming personality and strong character. You could agree, or disagree, with him on many things in radio or life, but you would always find a person who knew to say yes or no firmly.
Camilo was a teacher who didn't poison. A model of tutor. In the talks at the Radio Club of Panama or any of the amenable tertulias that emerged during radio activities surrounded by tuned friends, both experts and rookies, we received constant lessons. Camilo was a man of innate and endless pedagogical habit. When the talk thing seemed to run out she dropped her last word scholarly and always wrapped up with a biting commentary. Because Camilo not only talked about first but he was also the last one to speak. The fight continues!
He was said to be an intense man. The saying is all a mistake of appreciation. It's just that for him radioafition involved action. Thought or unthinkable. He didn't let go of any opportunity to climb in sleep and in honor of the Panamanian radio amateur. So when he made a decision there was no man more identified with his cause. Capable of being a tough critic of authority, his soul always condemned fraud, ineptitude, and the play alive. He strongly managed that the National Government will donate valuable land and a booth in Paitilla, where the real and primal Panamanian League of Radio fans established its first home. He was ungrateful never thanked.
He never sailed from all his radio honours represented in thousands of cards and diplomas he earned with the merit of his intense work as a radio amateur. With the energy of the young man he was the protagonist of the first remote expedition in Panama, Coibita Island (HP0A), and with the experience of the mature he accepted without hesitation the uncomfortable position of examiner and technician of the National Board of the Radio Service.
My memory as a time traveler offers me fresh memories of Camilo's image. I feel compelled to fire him like when a amateur radio ends a contact. No mourning or pain. I refuse to mourn, because HP1AC radio fans, Camilo, never die, just turn off their radio.