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Director 1992 - 1998
John H. 'Jack' Troster Atherton, CA QCWA # 2774 Chapter 11 and 120 |
John H. Troster, W6ISQ, became a Silent Key on January 11, 2014. His wife of 65 years, Marguerite (KC6NFE), was at his bedside when he passed away.
Jack, along with Vince Chinn K6KQN (now W6EE), Lee Shaklee W6BH (SK), and Don Schliesser K6RV, founded the Northern California DX Foundation in October, 1972. Jack served as an NCDXF Board member for 26 years before stepping down in July, 1998. He was the Foundation's third President, serving from 1975 until 1986.
Jack had an enormous passion for amateur radio. He was first licensed in September, 1935, at age 14, as W2ISQ in Yonkers, NY. He received his W6ISQ callsign when he moved to California shortly after the end of World War II. Among Jack's many radio accomplishments and awards were DXCC #1 Honor Roll on the Mixed, CW and SSB modes; 5B-DXCC; 5B-WAS (Certificate #4); and USA Counties Award (for working all 3,076 USA counties, which he did completely on CW!). Jack was a member of the FOC and the A1 Operators Club; he served as president of both the Northern California DX Club and the Northern California Contest Club; he was a Contributing Editor of QST magazine and was the Pacific Division's representative on the ARRL DX Advisory Committee. He was a director of the Quarter Century Wireless Association and for years wrote the monthly QCWA column published in World Radio News. Jack was named NCDXC's DXer of the Year, and in 1988 he was inducted as the 27th member of the CQ DX Hall of Fame.
As impressive as were all his radio achievements, even more so was Jack himself. He was the consummate gentleman.
He was warm and welcoming to everyone he met, and many amateur radio operators today enjoy the hobby as a direct
result of his nurturing, encouragement and enthusiasm. Jack was known for his quick wit and encyclopedic knowledge
of amateur radio history. His passing leaves a huge void. Amateur radio has lost one of its giants.