[CQ-Contest] K4OJ SK

[Michael Tope]

Well said, John. We all take ourselves too seriously
from time-to-time and Jim was always there to remind
us to lighten up and enjoy the ride. I remember when
we got our vanity calls K4OJ and W4EF back in 1996
while I was still living in Florida. Jim would make cracks
about "Elmer Fudd" and I would respond with comments
about his White Bronco. It was great fun which I will
really miss.

Jim enthusiasm for contesting was second to none and
it was infectious. Back in my Florida days when I became
a member of the Florida Contest Group, I remember how
welcome Jim made me feel to the group. And even after
I left Florida for the west coast, Jim would always throw in
a "HI ELMER" when worked each other in each other in
a CW contest. It was like having a lifetime hononary
membership to the club.

Some folks are competitive to the point that they are
miserable to be around. Jim was as competitive as they
come, but his disarming, fun, and sometimes zany
personality made you remember that it was all about
having fun. That is as a good a legacy as any I can
think of.

RIP Juice Man. I am gonna miss you, bro!

73 de Mike, W4EF................................

From: "W0UN -- John Brosnahan" <shr at swtexas.net>
To: "Ellen White, W1YL" <w1yl at tampabay.rr.com>; <CQ-Contest at contesting.com>



> Over the years I knew Jim as the "crazy guy" we all have lurking inside
> of us and that we try to keep hidden most of the time.  The "craziness"
> was really just his enthusiasm for everything he did.  Whenever he sent
> me an email it had some little, slightly bizarre, item tucked inside that
would
> always make me laugh.  And his promotion of the FQP was legendary.
>
> I knew that he had some long-term health issues with his liver and then
the
> heart problem came up.   Jim wrote me about it and I was able to relate
> my personal experiences with my own aortic valve replacement.  It was
> no vacation certainly but it was not that bad.   I was back at A61AJ for
the
> WPX contest only 8 weeks after my surgery.   So I tried to make Jim
> feel confident in the outcome and understand that the recovery would
> be relatively easy--even knowing that in his case his other issues would
> make it more difficult.
>
> It was the farthest thing from my mind that his much poorer health would
> make this letter necessary.  And in retrospect I recall that my doctor's
> insisted that I have my surgery while I was otherwise still in good
health.
>
> We usually take life for granted, I know I did until my heart
surgery--which
> is why I decided to retire from Alpha/Power.  But in Jim's case the
outcome
> is a much stronger reminder that we need to live our lives to the
fullest--as
> he did.  And always be a little crazy--crazy about the good things that
life
> has to offer.
>
> Jim will live in many of our memories as someone who taught us to have
> more fun and to worry less.  A good legacy to leave for us all.
>
> Jim, you will be missed by many more people than you ever realized.
>
> Godspeed on your new journey -- W0UN
>