[RVRC] Local Ham W2BXA SK

[Bryan D. Boyle]

from the ARRL:

--

Ben Stevenson, W2BXA, of Colonia, New Jersey, passed away on May 5, 
2011. He was 97. An ARRL member since 1934, Stevenson was also a charter 
member of the New Jersey DX Association since 1957, serving as its first 
president. Stevenson held Satellite DXCC #1, Mixed DXCC #6 (390 
countries confirmed) and Phone DXCC #6 (388 countries confirmed).

Only missing two deleted entities -- French Indo-China (FI8) and Damao 
Diu (CR8) -- Stevenson earned his Mixed and Phone DXCC Awards in 1947, 
just two years after amateurs were allowed back on the air after World 
War II. He held his call sign continuously for 82 years.

Stevenson graduated from the Newark College of Engineering in 1935 and 
served as an electrical engineer with the US Navy during World War II. 
After the war, he was a plant manager in Carteret, New Jersey before 
retiring in 1972.

During the sinking of "The Flying Enterprise" in January 1952, he was 
able to reach the ship's captain, Kurt Carlsen allowing him to speak to 
his family in Woodbridge, New Jersey. Though the ship was lost, the 
captain and crew survived, as did nine of the 10 passengers on board. 
During the Vietnam War, Stevenson would patch soldiers via ham radio to 
their families back home in the US.

Visitation will be held on Friday, May 6 from 2-4 and 7-9 PM at the 
Gosselin Funeral Home in Edison. Parastas will be 3:30 PM, also at the 
funeral home. Funeral services will be held on Saturday, May 7 at 9:30 
AM at the funeral home. Interment will be at Evergreen Cemetery in Hillside.


-- 
Bryan
In this world, you must be oh so smart or oh so pleasant.
Well, for years I was smart. I recommend pleasant.
You may quote me.