[SMCARA] SK notification - Jim Schwitz_WA4CCF

[petebutt at comfac.com]

Folks,

  Sometimes we learn about sad news in strange ways.  The other day, I
received a notice back that reflector e-mails to long-time St. Mary's
County Amateur Radio Association club member Jim Schwitz's (WA4CCF)
e-mail account were bouncing.  I don't know why but I immediately
suspected something was wrong and did a quick web search on Google for
the obituary announcements in Alexandria, Virgina (where he lived) and
was dismayed to see that Jim had passed away suddenly at the end of
January.

  Many of you may remember Jim from his many trips to his summer cottage
in Cove Point (lower Calvert County) over the years... or his annual
treks to the Dayton Hamvention year after year... or his annual driving
trips out West to explore the beauties of Yellowstone, the Grand Canyon
or the deserts of New Mexico.  Jim loved those trips and always came
back with lots of stories and photos about what he had seen and how
great this country is.  Or you may have remembered seeing his big Ford
van with about 13 or 14 whip antennas on the roof (and about two dozen
radios of every description in the center console, under the dash, on
the sun visor, and by the door.  There were many times when Jim would
drive up and park in my driveway with at least six scanners squawking
and perhaps one or two conversations going on in the background on
2-meters or 440 Mhz.  My neighbors always commented afterward asking me
"who was that masked man with all the radios"?

  But what most of you probably don't remember is that Jim was one of the
smartest technical guys I've ever met.  He was an electronics technician
for many years with PEPCO and known throughout the Washington area as
the best radio repairman in the business.  He was unpretentious and just
liked to help.  Jim helped us (you and I) on many occasions and you
probably didn't even know it... he helped me build repeaters that worked
flawlessly and he repaired the .64 repeater on several occasions over
the years.  When I last talked to Jim in January, just before he died,
he was helping me to figure out how to wire up another circuit for my
440 Mhz repeater.

  Jim loved the 220 MHz band and was an ardent supporter of whatever it
took to get repeaters and remote bases up on the air on that band.  On
his many trips to Dayton, he would eagerly look for parts and pieces to
complete that "next project".  Invariably, his projects weren't for
himself but for his friends and neighbors.  The Alexandria Radio Club
owes a big thank you to Jim since Jim single-handedly purchased and
built all of their repeaters over the years and did all of the routine
maintenance.

  I was really shocked to hear that Jim had passed.  Jim was a big guy and
that probably didn't help him in his later years.  There were a few
times, when I was sitting with him and his mom on the porch of their
Calvert County home, where we discussed his health and how he needed to
try and lose a few pounds to help his breathing.  Regardless, Jim was a
special guy and we all should give pause for a few moments and reflect
on what he did for us over the years and what he brought to this world
in the way of technical excellence and compassion for his friends and
associates.

  Rest in Peace Jim... we will miss you (a lot).

  Respectfully,

  Pete (WA3UMY)
  President, St. Mary's County Amateur Radio Association