The AM Forum

Ray Osterwald, NØDMS, Electric Radio Magazine, just informed that Bill, KDØHG, passed away last night of a heart attack. Further details will be reported when known. I was shocked when Ray told me the news.

say it ain't so. Holy cow!

I'm absolutely dumbfounded.  I remind myself on occasion that we all never know how much time we have left, but still when something like this happens, it is a shock.  I heard Bill putting out a CQ only a week or two ago and now silenced forever.  We have lost a Tall Ship.  My prayers for Bill and condolences to the XYL and family.

Rob

WHAT! This is sad news. Sometimes you just assume people will be around. Very sorry to hear about Bill's passing. Condolences to his family.

I always enjoy reading Bill's posts and even though I never met him in person I felt like I knew him.  This is very sad news and my condolences to his family and friends.  We lost a very good guy.

Good God! How can this all be happening?? Two active AMers in the last 24 hours?? Bill posted in the Westinghouse meters thread at 7:28 last night!

This is all so, so wrong. As Steve says, you just think these guys will always be around. Bill was very active and seemed healthy as a horse. Now he's gone? It's unbelievable.

This is quite shocking.

God bless Bill and his family.

Sadly, the ranks are thinning :'(.

R.I.P., boys.

73DG

Sigh.... another tall ship gone.    So sorry to hear.  Bill was a classic AMer, a ham's ham.

It's amazing how these heart attacks and related cardio problems come out of the blue and kill seemingly healthy people.  Sometimes no warning at all.  Ain't fair.

RIP Bill.


T

I'm in shock.  Great guy and a standup moderator here on AMFone.net.  And always a great signal into Maryland.

We'll all miss his wit and wisdom  :'(

That is absolutely unbelievable.  I will miss Bill - he was such a fixture from that part of the world.

Yet another one we loose.  I had never met Bill, but was able to help him out by sending him a transmitting mica for one of his 304-TL home brew rigs maybe 6 months or so ago.  He kept trying to pay me for it and I kept saying no!  I won that exchange!!  Bill possessed great technical knowledge and with all of that knowledge never had to tell anyone how great he was.  The true greats don't and he was one of the true greats.  Others should learn from him.   

Our thoughts and prayers are with his family and his friends.

Joe, W3GMS   

I was stunned to say the least. I had talked with Bill a few times on the telephone over the years. Not sure of his age, but I know that I'm several years older than him.

RIP old friend.

Sorry to read about this. I always enjoyed his posts here. R.I.P. sir.

Very sad news, indeed. A complete shock, in fact.

I first became acquainted with Bill Kleronomos about 20 years ago when we were both writing for a now-defunct audio magazine (named Sound Practices) that largely catered to homebrewers and enthusiasts of exotic/high-end vacuum tube audio equipment. He was really a great guy, very knowlegeable about multiple subjects (electronics and otherwise), and completely unselfish. I will miss him very much.

My sympathies and prayers go out to Bill's family during what certainly is a most difficult time.

Sic transit gloria mundi. Thus passes the glory of the world, as another of our amateur radio brethren departs for a better place.

Rest in peace my friend, and 73.

Bruce

Here's a photo of Bill (left) with Rod, KQ6F taken at Colorado Rod, W5CZ's place a few years back. Photo is from Gary, K6GLH, who knew Bill from way back when.

Bill was a great guy. What a shock. What a loss.

I'm very shocked to hear of Bill's passing.  I always enjoyed his posts here and our conversations on the air.

Rest in Peace AM Friend!

73,  Jack, W9GT

I'm very sorry to hear of Bill passing.

Electric Radio magazine came in the mail yesterday. Under the Editor's Comments was a piece about the Heavy Metal Rally, and Bills involvement. Maybe we should make an extra effort to be involved this year.

klc

Excellent idea.

What do you think about naming it the Bill Kleronomos Memorial AM Rally since he was a major driver behind it for many years?

Very sad news indeed. I've known Bill for several years now, both professionally and personally. One heck of an engineer, and one heck of a great guy.

Shocked and stunned is an understatement :'(

Steve,

I think that is very appropriate and a wonderful way to provide continued recognition of his importance to the event.

" Bill Kleronomos Memorial AM Rally  "

It works for me.


On another note..... We've had a lot of 'well known' AMers pass on. Maybe we should plan some kind of activity on Memorial Day. ZedRF, the UAN, Derb,  Irb , etc; just a few I can remember.

klc

I felt in a state of shock after hearing the news.  I have known Bill for at least 20 years and just talked to him a few nights ago, and e-mailed him regarding something I thought was wrong with his audio.  We worked again the next night, and although improved, I told him it still didn't quite sound right (difficult to understand what he said because the highs were missing).  We set up a sked for the following night on 3705, but he e-mailed me that he couldn't make it because of an unrelated crap-out, but planned to let me know as soon as he fixed it.  Never dreamt that I would never hear him on the air again.

RIP old friend.



None of us is guaranteed to-morrow.

On the Vanity of Earthly Greatness

The tusks which clashed in mighty brawls
Of mastodons, are billiard balls.
The sword of Charlemagne the Just
Is Ferric Oxide, known as rust.
The grizzly bear, whose potent hug,
Was feared by all, is now a rug.
Great Caesar's bust is on the shelf,
And I don't feel so well myself.
   
-Arthur Guiterman

SHOCKING!!  Very sad to hear of Bill's passing.

Bill was a real gentleman.  Enjoyed reading his posts here,  and hearing his bodacious signal here in the West.

He kenw it all,   but was not a "know it all".

Best wishes to you Bill,  you will be missed,  thank you for all the good will and knowledge you left for us here.  Condolances to Bill's  family and all of his friends.

RIP,  Vic

So sorry to hear about Bill.  When I was back in VA, the band would sometimes go long early and all I could hear would be just noise.  Then this strapping signal would come booming in on 3885 and it would be him.  He will be missed.

I too am truly shocked. We had been friends since first lighting the AM filaments
back in the 80's. Our group has been made poorer by his absence.

Skip

WOW.. 

Tough pill to swallow. Like many, I enjoyed the QSO's over the years. I remember
when Bill welcomed me back into AM in 1997 after a good 15 years...we picked up
right where we left. Will miss ya OM, vri
73,
Steve w8tow

..spoke will bill last week, ..hard to believe...

..tim..

..sk..

i am with everyone else. that is unreal.

I think we need to add a biography section to the AM forum. There have been some real notables that have passed over the years and some of the savor & flavor of these unique personalities needs to be passed on. I have only been on the AM scene for 30 years but so many names come to mind. Each of these individuals had something unique, whether it was stories, voices, or gear it all adds up to something special that doesn't carry over into other modes. I sometimes tell stories about these guys and many folks don't relate to them. I bet there are even audio clips of many. Some are still around, but rarely heard any more. Anyone remember the Kobe & Otis sessions? (Otis is still around K5SWK) they we're stories to rival Gene Shephard! How about Ozona Bob? That was over the edge for old buzzard transmissions.
Skip

Horrible, horrible news. I worked Bill on 160 several times, mostly from my NJ station. He was an excellent broadcast engineer who held down the fort at Clear Channel's Denver station cluster.

Had a very similar thought last night. After many nights of marginal conditions and little hope, I'd hear his baritone voice wading through the hiss and static of 75/80m from Colorado. You knew it was going to be a night filled with good radio fun & conditions when you heard Bill's signal back east.

Checked my log book to see when we last worked. It was February 15th, around 20:42 EST on 3.705. One of those nights when signals were building up to the west earlier than usual.

Skip, we do have a SK section but it is in need of updating. One of those things we've been meaning to work on but seems to keep getting pushed aside by other commitments. We'll try to get it rolling again soon. Maybe a different approach is in order allowing folks to add comments as you indicate.

Bill on 40 meters in 2009.

Just waking up to this news.

Really a day for reflection now.

Thanks Steve for posting that audio clip of Bill.  Since I don't operate late nights, I never had the opportunity to work Bill.  Sure had a great sounding rig. 

Joe, GMS

I am sorry to hear about Bill's passing. I remember working him a few times but I forgot on what bands? One time he was running his 304 rig at full power and I often wished that I could have been there to see the rig in operation. I suppose it's too early to talk about what will become of the transmitter but I hope someone will be the proud owner of it and use it to help remember Bill in the spirit of a good ham radio operator that Bill was!

RIP my friend!

Very sad news for us all. Bill's voice on the air and here in the forum will be missed.

Rob W1AEX

You got 1 vote for a biography section.

Ray Osterwald, NØDMS of Electric Radio Magazine informs me that the Heavy Metal Rally will be named in honor of Bill.

Thats a good idea. I think alot of us read the new rules for the heavy metal rally recently. I had no idea Bill was involved in starting the rally.

C

I never spoke with Bill but God Bless and RIP

Carl KB3RDT

Bill would always roll in here solidly on 160.  Being only 1000 miles or so from Colo. and having the inverted L slightly favoring the west we were able to have some good QSOs, some surprisingly early for the band.  Bill had a beverage to the East and his R390A.  Ever notice how AMers outside the AM centers of gravity never run Rangers and inverted Vs?  160 is a tough band to strap on and Bill had one of the few regular big signals and he will be missed. 

I think it is a great idea to name the Rally for him. 

Fantastic news Steve. 

Joe, GMS

I received the following e-mail last night:

Hello All,
I have renamed the annual Electric Radio Heavy Metal Rally the "KDØHG Heavy Metal Rally" in Bill's honor. Let's all light up those big rigs December 29, maybe Bill in the Great Shack will hear us.

Here is an email I received yesterday from Bill's wife, Janice:

"To All,
It is with great sadness that we communicate the news of Bill’s passing.
He had so many friends scattered far and wide that we hope you will pass this news on to whoever might have known Bill.
There will be a visitation and service on Sunday, November 18, 2012 at Howe Mortuary, 439 Coffman Street, Longmont, CO.
Visitation begins at 2 p.m. with Memorial Service beginning at 3.
Memorial donations may be made thru Howe Mortuary to an Educational Memorial Fund for Bill’s two children, Adrienne and Alex.
Information will be available at www.howemortuary.com within the next few days.
Bill was a wonderful husband, father, and friend that will be missed more than words can say.
Thank you for your thoughts and prayers,
Jan, Alex, and Adrienne Kleronomos."

It's hard to believe Bill is gone, his kids were barely out of High School. I first met him 30 years ago when we both were working at the same 2-way radio shop in Denver, Co. Later, we worked in the Telecommunications Division of Public Service Company of Colorado, the state's largest electric utility. After our jobs were "outsourced" we went separate ways, Bill returned to commercial broadcast radio and I stuck it out with the IBM'ers.

73, NØDMS

Ray,

What a great tribute to Bill in renaming the Heavy Metal Rally in Bill's honor.  Thank you for doing that.   

I remember in talking to you and Bill that you both worked together earlier in your careers.  I am sure you have many fond memories along with some great stories. 

I only new Bill from afar, but I admired not only his capabilities but his "style" as a person. 

Joe, W3GMS   

Ray, add me to the others who are delighted you're naming this annual radio event for him.

He would have turned 62 tomorrow,  Nov. 19, and it's sad that he won't be around to celebrate that and the many more we wish he could have had with us.

Being on the radio and talking about him will certainly help keep alive our memory of him.

Jeez, Im in total shock at the news plus being so late to the forum, been too busy recently to even log in.

Bill and I have talked over the air and shared several emails and phone calls over the years.

Sincere condolences to his family and friends.

Carl
KM1H

WOW, I just stopped in to ask a question, which now can wait.Over the last 22 years I had talked to Bill quite a few times both from my Colorado QTH and off oil rigs in Wyoming.Always gave him a hard time about him having AMI#10 while I was #20 so I must be twice as good. That was never the case. He was a very smart, intertaining, and wonderful person, and a hell of an engineer.  

My condolences to his family, Bill touched many people and will be greatly missed.

Marty WB2RJR

Folks:

Very sorry to hear this sad news. I never spoke with him on the air, but his writing on Electric Radio and here were excellent.

We have lost a good man.

73,
Dan
W1DAN

Wow, so sorry to hear this news. I was in a cave (really) all last week, and just got this. I met Bill in 2007 at a warehouse where he had stored a BC1H1 from Boulder AM station. He not only gave it to me, but had riggers there to load it onto my trailer with forklift. Here he is with the loaded trailer. He was an excellent BC engineer, a great AM ham, and a really nice guy, from what I saw in my brief meeting. I have heard him at night kicking on the big switch. Now he will turn on the big switch upstairs....

I lost a co-worker just over a week ago in an accident, fell off a cliff in NM while taking photos of his favorite places. He worked with me daily for the past 22 months, such a loss. Now the news of the AMers here, I need a drink.

http://www.radioworld.com/article/service-sunday-for-bill-kleronomos/216427

I just received the below picture from Bill's wife, Janice.  What a great picture by which to remember one of the foremost members of the AM community!

Thanks, Janice, and our deepest sympathies on your (and our) loss.