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Paul N. Dane Livermore, CA QCWA # 24819 Chapter 16 |
Born August 27, 1919, in Bolckow, MO. Paul passed away quietly on April 12, 2013 after a long retirement. He was one of five children. His mother passed away when Paul was only 15. The family then moved to San Francisco where Paul attend Galileo High School, during which time he joined the CC's, California Conservation Corps, and was sent to Burns, Oregon. He later returned to High School and was able to graduate.
A naval veteran of WWII, he joined the service 1941, before Pearl Harbor. He became a naval cryptographer and radio operator where he served in the Pacific theater. Paul was involved in the code breaking effort to crack the Japanese code that help lead to the end of the war. He was very proud of his service.
After the navy Paul went to college and earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering. He spent his early career in a variety of jobs including working for the Contra Costa Sheriffs Department. Eventually he was hired by LLNL, Livermore Lab in 1954. As an electronics engineer he specialized in communication systems using high frequency microwave and was involved in technical security. He retired after 30 years in 1984 as a radio frequency manager and worked with many engineering departments, and security groups through the University of California, Berkeley and the DOE, Department of Energy.
In 1962 while working at the Lab he met his future wife, Vivian. They were married after only a month, as Paul didn't believe in long engagements. No one thought it would last. However, after 51 years they were proved wrong. They combined their families with a total of 6 children. Barry Mullin (Barbara, Barry Nolan) of Shingle Town, Paula Pipitone (Joe Arrigone) of Danville, Janis Buckley (deceased, Jaime Buckley), Paul Dane Jr. (Marcy, Jordan, Garret, Wyatt) of Concord, Robert Dane (Jaime Westfall, Austin) of Sacramento, and Jim Mullin (Tami, Rylie).
He was always active as a member of a number of organizations, including; past President of UC.LLNL Retires Assn., past Vice President of Retired Officers Assn., member of IEEE, SIRS, Elks, and QCWA, as well as on the Board of Directors of the U.S Naval Cryptographers.
Always a fan of music and movies Paul loved to collect LP records and movie books. Always on the lookout for an old radio or something nostalgic and he could collect. His prized possession was a WWII RIP-5 code machine used to break the Japanese code which he donated to the USS Pampanito, a Balboa class WWI submarine from Pearl Harbor on display in San Francisco.
However his real passion was amateur radio. He was an active Ham Radio operator and loved to talk to people all over the world. He was proud of his call letters "W6WOW" and enjoyed the WOW factor. He was an active member and former Vice President of The Society of Wireless Pioneers, as well as a Fellow of the Radio Club of America, the oldest radio club in America.
A memorial service was held at the Chapel First Presbyterian Church of Livermore on April 23, 2013.
Source: The Independent, April 25, 2013