[SFDXA] ARRL Southeastern Division Newsletter

[Bill]

More tributes to Jeff Beals WA4AW...


ARRL Southeastern Division Newsletter


	

*ARRL Division News*

Southeastern Division

Dear ARRL members in the Southeastern Division,

I’m writing you with the sad news that our Vice Director, Jeff Beals, 
WA4AW, became a Silent Key on Saturday, July 20, 2024 
<https://arrl.informz.net/z/cjUucD9taT0zMDkwMzI2JnA9MSZ1PTUyNTQ3MzY2NCZsaT0zNDQzODM5NA/index.html>, 
after a battle with cancer.

Jeff was a friend to many over the years. He helped with all sorts of 
issues when I was president of the Broward ARC, including testing and 
listening to my complaints. I saw Jeff with every Section Manager at 
club meetings since 2000, guiding them, making sure ARRL was part of 
program!

Jeff was a connector – his “super power” was finding volunteers and 
organizing events so that others would see the value of their service.

“We’ll see you next time!” And you knew he would call.

He “volunteered” many of us to charitable runs and bike rides, the South 
Florida Fair and many other events that promoted amateur radio, and 
hamfests. He volunteered entire clubs then challenged us to show!

I will miss Jeff at ARRL Board meetings – he would lean over and give me 
insight into ongoing (live) issues, and we always discussed difficult 
issues. Jeff has long-time friends, some from high school, on the ARRL 
Board.

Jeff gave most of his free time to the ARRL and amateur radio. He was a 
dedicated “Servant Leader,” with most weekends at activities with others.

His life as an amateur radio leader and generally good person was 
exemplary. Let us all remember Jeff’s life of contributions with thanks 
and fondness.

73, Jeff. You will be missed.



Mickey Baker, N4MB

ARRL Director

Southeastern Division

n4mb at arrl.org <mailto:n4mb at arrl.org>

*A tribute to Jeff Beals, WA4AW *

/By ARRL Southern Florida Section Manager Barry Porter, KB1PA/

Jeff Beals, WA4AW became a silent key on July 20, 2024. He lived a life 
dedicated to community service and Amateur radio. Jeff was elected as 
Vice Director for the ARRL Southeastern Division in 2022, and was 
previously Vice Director in the SE Division from Aug 2009- Dec 2010.

He was active with the ARRL Field Organization since the late 70s. In 
the Southern Florida Section he served as the Section Manager, Assistant 
Section Manager, Affiliated Club Coordinator, Section Membership 
Coordinator, Technical Coordinator and Technical Specialist.

Jeff was first licensed in the early 60s as WN2OUK at age 12 in Long 
Beach, LI, NY , where he was active with the local 5 Towns Radio Club 
and Nassau County AREC/RACES. He even had a 2 meter radio on his 
Bicycle. He held an Amateur Extra Class license and FCC First Class 
Radiotelephone license (now called a GROL).

Jeff's service with amateur emergency communications includes serving as 
Section Emergency Coordinator for the Southern Florida Section, 
Assistant SEC, District Emergency Coordinator for the Gold Coast 
District, Emergency Coordinator and County RACES Officer for Lee and 
Palm Beach Counties and member of the ARRL National Emergency Response 
Planning Committee. He was certified at all 3 levels of ARRL ARECC , 
EC-015, EC-016 and advanced FEMA training. He received State of Florida 
commendations for service with Hurricanes Andrew and Katrina. He was 
also deployed to Hurricanes Frances, Jean, Wilma, Matthew & Irma.

Jeff was active with the Quarter Century Wireless Association ( QCWA ) 
He served as Secretary/Treasurer of the Palm Beach Chapter 111 since 
1999 and a member of the National Board of Directors and Historian. He 
was a member of the Highlands, Edison, Everglades & Citrus Chapters of 
QCWA. He was elected Vice President of QCWA in 2023.

He was a life member of the ARRL, QCWA , OOTC and AWA and a Fellow of 
the Radio Club of America. Past President of the Fort Myers and West 
Palm Beach ARCs and a member of the Wellington RC, Port St. Lucie ARA, 
Florida Contest Group, FL East Coast DX Club and life member of the Fort 
Myers ARC, West Palm Beach ARC, Gold Coast ARA and Martin County ARA. He 
held membership in the ARRL A-1 Operator Club, Old Timers Club & Royal 
Order of the Wouff Hong. He also was named " Ham of the Year " by the 
West Palm Beach ARC. He was a CE and VE with the ARRL and W5YI VEC and 
VE with the Laurel VEC.

His personal tribute to the fathers of electronic communications are 
memorials to Major Edwin H. Armstrong and Philo T. Farnsworth and was 
trustee of the callsigns for their pioneering FM and TV stations.

He curated the Yesteryear Village Old Radio & TV Museum at the South 
Florida Fairgrounds in West Palm Beach. That club call is W4YYV. His 
other interests include collecting and restoring classic radios, 
traveling to hamfests, antique cars and radio-TV history. 
Professionally, He was the communications supervisor in SE Florida for 
the State of Florida Forestry Service. He was also a licensed insurance 
adjuster in the State of Florida and previously, a licensed insurance 
broker in New York State. He also owned a taxi company in Long Island.

Jeff's XYL, Myra, K3PGH is retired and they split their time between 
residences in Lake Placid & Royal Palm Beach, FL. They also volunteered 
at many amateur radio events throughout the year.

His presence will always be with us, but he will be deeply missed.

Rest in Peace



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