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Benjamin J. 'Ben' Russell Ocala, FL QCWA # 30883 Chapters 62 & 221 |
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From: orlandosentinel.com
BENJAMIN RUSSELL, 82, Ocala, died Tuesday. Baldwin Brothers Cremation Society, Lady Lake.
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Very sorry to hear this. I had just worked him during the Military to Amateur Crossband test of May 14, where I was at USS LST325 on Military freqs and he was on the ham band. He was also instrumental with SOWP (Society of Wireless Pioneers, NØUF) and it's nets. A real pioneer...
Perry - w8au
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It is with great sadness that I want to report that Ben Russell, N6SL, became a silent key this morning.
He had been under hospice care since Sunday. The good news is that both of the kids were there, including the daughter from England.
There will be a memorial service on Monday, June 6, at 2:00 PM at Grace Episcopal Church in downtown Ocala.
Ben had been very active in QCWA, serving as NCS on the Wednesday evening national CW net, until his recent bout with cancer started. He had been involved with QCWA both on the national level and local level. I can not begin to list all of the things he has done. He will be missed.
If you need more info, please give me a call or e-mail.
tnx es 73,
Ken, W8EK
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The Face behind the Fist: QCWA CW NCS - Ben Russel N6SL - Wednesday at 2359Z on 7.035 MHz - Photo by Dave Johnson/AD5MH
My first amateur license was issued in 1946. First operation was Maritime Mobile from the SS Flying Arrow/ANLV when 10 meter MM operation was authorized. In 1951 moved to California and was issued the call W6NYB and when the EXTRA class was established received the present call. N6SL. Operation is mainly CW with some digital and SSB tossed in.
Ben Russell, N6SL, Silent Key Ben Russell, N6SL, became a silent key on May 31, 2016. While we use the term "Silent Key" for all of the hams that have died, in Ben's case this is truly the situation. Ben was a terrific CW operator. CW was his passion and he did it very well. His key (or more correctly his bug) is now silent. For more years than anyone can remember, N6SL was the net control station for the QCWA National CW net on 40 meters on Wednesday evenings. He only gave this position up when he started chemotherapy. Even after that, he still checked into the net, except when he was in the hospital during his final week on earth. Ben was sent home under hospice care for his final three days. Even then, he asked the hospice people to move his bed to his shack so he could get on the air. They refused to do it, but this shows Ben's spirit and dedication to amateur radio. Ben was first licensed as W5LTX in 1946, so he enjoyed 70 years as an amateur radio operator. Among other things, he was a Marine CW operator, traveling to many places. He was also a member of the Society of Wireless Pioneers (SOWP) serving as net control of their net and also as an officer over the years. His list of amateur radio achievements and numerous organizations he belonged to could go on and on. But probably more important than his amateur radio achievements, Ben was a real Christian gentleman. This says a lot about a person. Ben respected everyone he met and everyone who checked in to his nets. And that respect was returned. Ben's funeral was held at Grace Episcopal Church in Ocala, where Father Jonathan French commented about what a gentleman Ben was. Of course he also mentioned Ben's amateur radio activities, including QCWA. When I sent out email announcements about Ben's death, I expected some response, but I was not prepared for the fast and numerous responses that came back. Some of these people say it best.
The following is a small sampling of some of the comments:
"Very sorry to hear this. I had just worked him during the Military to Amateur Crossband test of May 14, where I was at USS LST325 on Military freqs and he was on the ham band. He was also instrumental with SOWP and its nets. A real pioneer. Probably had a few hundred contacts over the years, including his Merchant Marine days. He certainly was a great ham radio icon." - Perry, W8AU
"Sad to hear the news, I had not heard him on the QCWA CW nets for a while so suspected he was dealing with health issues although he never said so. He for sure was a 1st class CW man, worked him many times on the Marine CW bands from WLO in Mobile while I was an operator there and he was on the Exxon fleet ships as well as working him in SOWP and QCWA activities." 73, Dean, W8IM
"This news comes as a severe blow. Ben was very upbeat when I talked to him last. When he missed the last CW net we knew this was not a good omen. I am very saddened by this news. Ben is irreplaceable in so many ways. He was also a NCS for the SOWP net and I believe past president." Vy 73, Doug, W6KE
"This is as sad as it gets. Nice the Lord has called him home and given him peace as the recent past has been a tough chapter in his long, rich, and full life. But it leaves a hole down here where he used to be. As fine a man in general and ham in particular as ever was. 73 Ben, you'll be missed." John, W4FID
"We were deeply saddened by the loss of Ben. He was a wonderful person and a great asset to the radio clubs. He will be greatly missed. With sympathy to the family and to all the area hams." - Joyce and Ned Davis, WB4BKO
"Condolences to all QCWA members on the death of a real pioneer, Ben Russell, N6SL. Ben was also President of the Society of Wireless Pioneers (SOWP) and a member of other amateur and commercial radio groups. I knew Ben from his work in maritime radio, both Slidell Radio (Tropical Radio Telegraph or TRT) WNU Slidell, LA, and from his various ships, most notably EILEEN INGRAHAM/WJMV and later his fine net operations on the Side Swiper Net (founded by Bob Shrader, W6BNB SK), SOWP net and QCWA nets! A fine operator as all can attest! Ben used to note when he announced that a key had gone silent, that such a person had "Earned his SOLID GOLD Vibroplex" - meaning not the gold plated version but the one God has for all good operators, the solid gold one. 73 OM BV RIP!" - David J, Ring, Jr., N1EA, SOWP, VWOA, OOTC, ARRL-LM and member of Side Swiper NET
"Indeed, Ben was a true gentleman in all of the senses. He will be dearly missed, especially while running the QCWA CW Net every Wednesday evening on 7.035." - 73, Ken Oelke, VE6AFO
Thank you Ben for all of the great things you did for amateur radio in particular and for all humanity in general. - Submitted by Ken Simpson, W8EK