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 Previous: How I Finally Learned to Actually Enjoy CW |  Next: Riley Hollingsworth to be Dayton Hamvention Keynoter |
December 9, 1999
John Schmeltzer IV, N1ZKF, SK [GNARC photo]. |
NEWINGTON, CT, Dec 9, 1999--High school classmates and fellow members of the Greater Norwalk Amateur Radio Club are mourning the loss of 16-year-old John Schmeltzer IV, N1ZKF, of Greenwich. Schmeltzer and 16-year old Dwight Renfrew died December 6 when the car Schmeltzer was driving slammed into a tree on the rain-slicked Merritt Parkway. Both teens were pronounced dead at the scene, according to news reports.
Grief counselors were being provided at Greenwich High School, where Schmeltzer and Renfrew were juniors. Classes at the school were to be cancelled today to permit students to attend services.
News accounts say that Schmeltzer's car went off the righthand side of the road Monday afternoon and struck a tree in Greenwich. Renfrew was in the passenger seat. There was no one else in the car at the time.
GNARC member John Kalotai, N1OLO, called Schmeltzer "one of our most promising young members" and said he would be missed by all.
A Technician licensee and an ARRL member, Schmeltzer was active as a SKYWARN spotter. He also was a volunteer for the Greenwich Amateur Radio Club.
In addition to his ham radio activities, Schmeltzer was very involved in school activities. He was a member of Key Club, the GHS stage crew--where he was instrumental in improving communications during school performances--and a Red Cross volunteer.
"John was always present at Field Day and contributed much to our score and our morale with his ever-present smile," an obituary notice on the GNARC Web page (http://www.norwalk.com/gnarc/) said.
| Previous: How I Finally Learned to Actually Enjoy CW | Next: Riley Hollingsworth to be Dayton Hamvention Keynoter |
