[Alexandria Radio Club Reflector] Charles "Chip" Margelli, K7JA, SK

[Ian]

Sad news....



Ham Radio has lost one of the best-known amateurs of the past 40 years . .
.

Charles "Chip" Margelli, K7JA, SK

One of the best-known amateurs of the past 40 years has become a Silent
Key. CQ joins the contesting and DXing communities in mourning the loss of
Charles "Chip" Margelli, K7JA, to cancer on May 25.
We first received the news from his close friend and CQ Contributing Editor
Gordon West, WB6NOA, pictured here with his wife Suzy, N6GLF and Chip:


"Chip left us yesterday at 4pm, after spending weeks putting together Field
Day station antennas and gear. That is all he would talk about - a great
station on the air! He was ready for Field Day!

He and Janet (KL7MF, Chip's wife of 45 years) fought this fast-spreading
cancer for months, with never a word to most anyone about his heroic fight.
He passed away peacefully, with dignity, at his home, with Janet and his
cat at his side. He gracefully closed his eyes, with piles of Field Day
equipment and cables he prepared, ready for deployment, right next to his
chair."

 Chip never complained, never let on to his fight, and always had a smile
for the upcoming Field Day event. So professional. He was always total
positive in all that he could do for ham radio operators.



What a gentleman - a true fighter to the end. We are all heartbroken."

Chip was a ham's ham, a contester (and frequent winner), DXer, DXpeditioner
(he was part of the ZA1A team that reintroduced ham radio to Albania in
1991 and a member of the 2003 CO0US joint US/Cuban Field Day operation),
moonbouncer, weak-signal VHFer, satellite operator and more. Chip spent
three decades as the "face" of Yaesu in the United States, attending
hamfests, visiting dealers and introducing new gear. After leaving Yaesu,
Chip worked for Heil Sound and as CQ Advertising Manager before leaving the
hamfest circuit and working behind the scenes at Ham Radio Outlet. He
couldn't totally stay home, though, as he continued to be in high demand as
a banquet speaker at conventions and hamfests.

Chip is perhaps best known among the general ham public for his 2005
appearance on "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno," in which he and partner Ken
Miller, K6CTW, proved they could send a message faster in Morse code than
by texting. Chip was inducted into the CQ Amateur Radio Hall of Fame in
2008 and awarded Russia's E.T. Krenkel medal in 2021.

"In a hobby full of really nice and really knowledgeable people," recalled
CQ Editor Rich Moseson, W2VU, "Chip was without question one of the nicest
and most knowledgeable. He was experienced in nearly every aspect of
amateur radio and was always happy to share that knowledge as well as his
many ham radio adventures. While Chip was on the CQ staff for only a short
period of time, he and Janet have been part of the extended CQ family for
many years. More than that, he was always just a good friend. We will miss
him greatly."



"OMG!" responded CQ Publisher Dick Ross, K2MGA, when he heard the news.
"Chip was the picture of good health! He used to go out running at shows.
He and Arnie (Sposato, longtime CQ ad manager, also SK) would be out early
on a Sunday to do a few miles together. And he had just retired from HRO
after a lifetime at Yaesu. Another old friend gone ... Certainly, we all
know of those who were very sick and who we expected to leave us, but too
often (others have) left us with no warning and no time to prepare our
minds for the inevitable."

Words cannot even begin to express our sorrow. All of us at CQ extend our
deepest sympathy and condolences to Janet and their entire family.

www.cq-amateur-radio.com
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