[Heathkit] Ham Radio Loses Wife Of W8QWL Of Dentronics

[Duane Fischer, W8DBF]

Dennis Caverly, W8QWL has operated a small business servicing local Ham 
Radio operators in the Flushing and Flint, MI areas for a number of years. 
After Denny retired from a career as a repair and technical specialist with 
a major telephone company, he filled his retirement hours by being 
everything from a mentor to a repair tech to an available shoulder for the 
broken parted to a provider of new and used radio gear etc. Always a smile, 
though only Heaven knows why! The only entities who whine more than a Ham 
with a broken TX, RX or no DX, is a common house cat that got its tail 
caught in the twin beater things that spin at 20,000 rpm to whip eggs and 
stuff! Dennis not only put up with us, but actually enjoyed us. A 
testimonial to his courage, strength of character and "possible" hearing 
loss!

His wife Jo was always behind Dennis, and trust me people, that lady knew 
just where to plant a foot to accomplish a wide range of effects! She set a 
lot in motion, including Denny! She kept the books and made sure the OM was 
on time and at the right place at said time! She was his best friend, 
business associate, loving wife, mother and grandmother and a friend to more 
Hams then I could ever name. Even with my near photogenic memory.

Dennis is truly a fantastic person. He stepped up to the batters box to 
Coach a rookie when I was first licensed and helped me set up my first 
station in August of 1998. He has been there ever since to answer my 
questions, hang a new piece of metal in the clouds, or fix one an over the 
weight restriction for air freight cloud smacked into and changed the 
takeoff angle dangle on! His patience, over the top effort to help his 
fellow Hams, amazing attitude of tolerance - when most sane mortals would 
have bound us with radial elements and looked for a nearby cliff! - positive 
personality and love of the greatest hobby in the world, sex ... OOPS! I 
meant to type Amateur Radio there! (LOL!)

Dennis. Thank you so very much for all that you have done for myself 
personally, as well as for all that you have done for our hobby and the 
multitude of Hams lives that you and Jo have touched over this century and 
last. I know that I voice the feelings of many when I say that we love you, 
thank you and Jo and extend to you, and your family, our most sincere and 
heartfelt sympathies and prayers.

What follows I wrote after hearing Marie Osmond live on my birthday some 
years ago. The poem was not really about Marie, but her music that evening 
did provide the inspiration. I believe that the context of this poem applies 
to you and the love of your life, Jo. I hope it brings you some warm 
memories Denny.

               IF I COULD HAVE JUST ONE FRIEND


                                        By, Duane B. Fischer


If I could have just one friend I'd want it to be you.
Because I know you're ever near with faith to see me through.
Someone who loves me as I am and takes my faults in stride,
And never lets me quit a task before I've even tried.
Someone with a knowing smile whose style it is to share,
Who doesn't hide the way she feels or make believe she cares.
Someone who treats me with respect, as if I were a king,
And brings alive forgotten dreams like tulips in the spring.
Someone whose touch is subtle, like the fragrance of a rose,
Who radiates a confidence no matter where she goes.
Someone who wants to listen when I need to tell it all,
And never passes judgement as she helps me from the fall.
Someone who's there to dry my tears and take away the pain,
Ever searching for the sunshine, never fleeing from the rain.
Someone who makes each passing day seem magical and new.
Yes, if I could have just one friend, I'd want it to be you.

Original: October 22, 1990 Written after having met Marie
Osmond following her concert. She held my hand while we
talked and I could sense her dynamic and effervescent spirit.




Duane Fischer, W8DBF - WPE8CXO
E-Mail: dfischer at usol.com
Hallicrafters web site: www.w9wze.net
HHRP web site: hhrp.w9wze.net