[CQ-Contest] Alfred A Laun, III K3ZO SK

[Richard Smith]

 This is very sad news indeed. We have lost a great ham and contester.
I have many fond memories of Fred, dating back decades. I worked with one of his buddies from Thailand, HS1BS, at a company in San Jose. Fred would come to visit HS1BS when en route to Visalia. I was lucky enough to be invited to dinners with them (at a Thai restaurant), and then drive with Fred from San Jose to Visalia with other hams (VA6VEF and others). 
Fred was very engaging and helpful, with opinions and stories that kept the conversation interesting. I learned a lot about the world and about contesting from many hours in conversation with Fred.
Fred made contact with HK0BKX on San Andres Island, and got me an invite to operate at his station. It was my very first SOAB Contest-expedition, and it was a great experience. Then he made contact with a buddy of his in Peru, and I was invited to operate at the Radio Club Peruano station (4T4O) along with WA6VEF and N6BT.
When my daughter, Raquel, was appointed to the Naval Academy in Maryland, we had the chance to dine and talk with Fred a few times. They were good times.
RIP my friend.
73, Rich, N6KT
    On Tuesday, January 3, 2023 at 05:55:21 PM PST, Ken Claerbout <kenk4zw at gmail.com> wrote:  
 
 It is with immense sadness that I share with you the passing of our
dear friend Fred Laun K3ZO.  Fred passed away this evening.

It was Fred's desire to not have any formal funeral or ceremony.
Certainly we will all find a way to celebrate our friend and a ham
radio icon.

We knew this day would eventually come.  It doesn't make it any
easier. There was just something about tuning the bands during a
contest and hearing K3ZO.  You knew everything was right with the ham
radio world. RIP OM. You were one of a kind!

73
Ken K4ZW
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