[FARC] SK: Doug Strobel, 20, of Damascus KB3HAM

[Bob Moroney]

Thanks, Dan.  That is sad news. 

The passing of KB3HAM was mentioned at Monday's FARC meeting, but I 
didn't see any obituary until today, and (so far) only on line.  Doug 
clearly touched a lot of people in many ways during his short life.  
Here's the full text of the obituary from the Montgomery edition of the 
Gazette:

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Douglas Donald Strobel, 20, of Damascus and Denver, Colo., died suddenly 
in his sleep on Friday, less than a week after returning to college from 
winter break.

Born Nov. 18, 1988, he was the son of David Strobel of Mount Airy and 
Cynthia D. Strobel of Damascus.

David Strobel said his son was not feeling well Thursday and visited a 
doctor. Douglas returned home, went to bed and never woke up, his father 
said.

Douglas Strobel was the only survivor of a set of triplets born 16 weeks 
early. However, the oxygen he needed to survive robbed him of his 
eyesight. But he never allowed his blindness to rob him of a normal life.

At the time of his death he was a freshman at Metropolitan State College 
of Denver majoring in hotel management after spending a year at the 
Colorado Center for the Blind independence program. He learned to cook, 
clean, shop, handle money and maneuver the public transportation system 
by himself, his father said.

"In one year of college he was a totally independent person," he said.

He made many friends who counted on him to coordinate their weekend 
restaurant dates and the best travel routes, David Strobel said.

"Doug will be remembered most for making people see beyond his 
disability, making them laugh and seeing the humor in any situation," he 
said.

Strobel graduated from Damascus High School in 2007.

Before moving to Colorado, Strobel made many friends over the airways on 
his ham radio. He got his amateur radio license Sept. 11, 2001, and this 
became his lifelong passion. His call sign was KB3HAM.

He remembered the voice, name and call sign of thousands of amateur 
radio operators up and down the eastern seaboard.

He also collected keys, a hobby he began as a young child, and was able 
to identify which cars they belonged to by their shape, sound and feel.

He joined the Cub Scouts in the first grade and advanced to the Boy 
Scout rank of Star before graduating from high school.

Survivors in addition to his parents include a sister, Dianne Strobel of 
Damascus; a grandmother, Gertrude Strobel of Olney; and numerous aunts, 
uncles and cousins.

He was preceded in death by his other grandmother, Dorothy Johnson; his 
grandfathers, Douglas Strobel and Donald Johnson; and two brothers, 
David Strobel Jr. and Donald Douglas Strobel. He will be buried 
alongside his brothers.

Friends may call 7-9 p.m. Friday at Molesworth-Williams Funeral Home, 
26401 Ridge Road in Damascus. A memorial service will be held at 1 p.m. 
Saturday at Damascus United Methodist Church, 9700 New Church St.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Colorado 
Center for the Blind, 2233 W. Shepperd Ave., Littleton, CO 80120.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

73, Bob K9CMR

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Dan Szymanski wrote:
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> Sent: Wednesday, January 21, 2009 6:21 PM
> Subject: [PVRC] SK: Doug Strobel, 20, of Damascus KB3HAM
>
>
>   
>> Doug KB3HAM.
>>
>> Douglas Donald Strobel, 20, of Damascus and 
>> Denver, Colo., died suddenly in his sleep on 
>> Friday, less than a week after returning to college from winter break.
>>
>> Born Nov. 18, 1988, he was the son of David 
>> Strobel of Mount Airy and Cynthia D. Strobel of Damascus.
>>
>> David Strobel said his son was not feeling well 
>> Thursday and visited a doctor. Douglas returned 
>> home, went to bed and never woke up, his father said.
>>
>> Douglas Strobel was the only survivor of a set of 
>> triplets born 16 weeks early. However, the oxygen 
>> he needed to survive robbed him of his eyesight. 
>> But he never allowed his blindness to rob him of a normal life.
>>
>> At the time of his death he was a freshman at 
>> Metropolitan State College of Denver majoring in 
>> hotel management after spending a year at the 
>> Colorado Center for the Blind independence 
>> program. He learned to cook, clean, shop, handle 
>> money and maneuver the public transportation 
>> system by himself, his father said.
>>
>> "In one year of college he was a totally independent person," he said.
>>
>> He made many friends who counted on him to 
>> coordinate their weekend restaurant dates and the 
>> best travel routes, David Strobel said.
>>
>> "Doug will be remembered most for making people 
>> see beyond his disability, making them laugh and 
>> seeing the humor in any situation," he said.
>>
>> Strobel graduated from Damascus High School in 2007.
>>
>>