The AM Forum

I'm a little worried myself Bill.
Last time I spoke with Irb he mentioned he was not feeling well and was not getting on the air as much as usual. Given his situation one can not just pick up the phone to check, hope he is OK.
Funny, I rolled tape on our last QSO, I had an odd feeling that I should.

-Bruce W1UJR

Bruce, did he say which QTH he was at ? I believe that at his Adirondack QTH his neighbor usually calls in on him every so often.  If not then perhaps some arrangement could be made  to have a nearby  ham check up on him. I would recommend to have the state police check up on him but Irb might get upset if "Caesar's men" show up.  ;) 

Has anyone heard from him yet? If not I will drive to his NJ place and check it out. Yall know I'm not an Irb fan but heck, he's a ham . . . .

Better wear your fatigues Art 8)

Art,
       how close are you to irb? it might not hurt to take a ride by, but then again
he might be upstate ny. deano

I'm south of Harrisburg, PA . . .

    i last heard him about three weeks ago. he was in Liberty Corner. he said he was going to take a Lyme disease test at the recomendation of his neighbor, who feels that Irb's ongoing complaint of joint and muscle pain in all parts of his body could be Lyme disease. i have not heard him since. he had reportedly moved his bed into the kitchen, due to having trouble moving about the house.

Its too bad we don't have a local contact for the man.
Despite his politics, right or wrong, he is a ham and a human being.
I do hope he feeling wel, but agree that having police show up may not be the best idea.
Ashly has mentioned to me that Irb has an estranged brother, wonder if Ashly is monitoring the board.

I don't think he is in New Russia, the last time I spoke with him he was heading back to NJ.

Someone should do a welfare check to see if he is ok.
I was quite concerned regarding our last conversation, did not have a good feeling about the guy, he seemed really ill to complain about health issues, not typical Irb.

I agree with Bruce. It would probably be a good idea to check up on the guy. I'd hate to think the guy is laying there in need of help. Esp. at his age. Lyme disease can be pretty aweful.

Bruce, W1UJR said,
   "Its too bad we don't have a local contact for the man."

Somebody might want to check with WA2BSP, Bob.  I believe he lives nearby, and is quite a good friend.

WA2BSP       Lookups: 91
ROBERT J UHRIK
104 Knoll Way
Rocky Hill NJ 08553

vH

 . . . hi Herb . .  good to see u . . . well in the absence of H&W input . . im rollin . . . 'will have 2M CB with me. . .  (HF gear is in CO) . . .

-ap

Art,

Can you clarify your message?  I don't fully understand.

k2vh@arrl.net

Yes, I was too brief.

Hi Herb. Nice to see you in print again.

Since we have no concrete information about Irb and since sooner is probably better than later to check on him, I have decided to go personally to see how he is doing. (Yeah, I know, who woulda thunk it . .  .)

If anyone gets an update in the next 3 hours or so please call me at 717 576 3353 or 970 402 7356 or 146.52 FM simplex.

73,
Art

There is a ham that lives about 8 miles from Irb who has in the past mentioned that he could visit Irb if necessary.

He is Mark Von Till. K2DGM, was WB2DGM until April of this year.  He lives in GREEN BROOK NJ.

Mark's e-mail address is listed in his QRZ.com biography.  I will send him an e-mail right after this posting requesting that he visit Irb's Liberty Corner QTH and report back.

Irb's bed has been in the kitchen for quite a while.  He sleeps there in the winter where the wood stove is.

Art,

Why don't you just try to get ahold of WA2BSP, above?  He's a lot closer than you are, and he might already know something.  You could probably get his phone number thru the White Pages.

For Art again:

Bob Uhrik's phone number in Rocky Hill, NJ is (609) 921-8032.  He is listed as R. Uhrik.  There is another listing for R. Uhrik at 30 Brookside Avenue, Sommerville, NJ 08876, which is even closer to VJZ.  It could be a second home for Bob.  The phone number there is (908) 722-8589.  Good luck.
vH

To all concerned persons:

Art Pightling (K3XF) is on his way right now to Liberty Corner, NJ.  I just hung up with him on his cell phone, and he is on the road.  I tried to contact WA2BSP, but was unable to reach him.  If anybody hears anything substantive in the next hour and a half, call Art's cell at (717) 576-3353.

You're a good man, Arthur Pightling!
vH

You're a good man Herb, thanks for your efforts!

I'll call Art on the phone and go over final directions to Irb's.  I presume that he has never been there.  If I was free today I would turn Art around and go there myself as I am a lot closer.  But c'est la vie.

Preliminary report -

Art found Irb at home and o.k.  Irb suspended operating his gear in the high temperatures.

I will probably visit Irb next week since his 78th birthday is Sunday August 6.

OKAY FINE!!
vH

Irb was at home and in good spirits. I interrupted his lunch preparation with my visit. He mentioned the aches and pains and stood briefly to meet me. It was over 90 in the sun but his home is nestled among the trees and shaded. We opened a couple of windows in his place wider. He mentioned the heat as a primary reason he wasn't on the air. He also wants to thank all who have been concerned for his welfare and said he didn't need anything at this time. I left after a brief visit and he went back to working on lunch.

Thank you to all who called to provide directions and support.

-ap

Glad to hear he's doing ok. As much as some of his on air politics and antics are annoying I'm glad to hear he's doing allright.  Much thanks to Art for taking the time to check up on a fellow AM'er.

You know, we all "annoy" or disagree with others from time to time.
It is really how we interact with each other outside of that context that tells a great deal about the character of who we really are.

Clearly we have many, many good folks on this board, the collective concern, and action, is a tribute to the AM community!  ;D

-Bruce

Art,

I'm glad to hear that he appreciated not only the concern of all on this thread, but also (I hope) your driving over four hours to check up on him.  As they say on American Idol, "You're da bomb, Man!"   On behalf of all of us on this thread, THANK YOU.   Oh, just wondered,  does he have a fan?

vH

 Now, who is going to check on Glen Bastard?

Herb my kids just cleaned the cats litter box so wait a day or so and I will have a donation for him. She just got her shots today so will be outside soon making them  a lot harder to locate.

I didn't see a fan in action at his place and am considering bringing a box fan to him. Though his place was probably 80 it was significantly cooler than the direct sun temperature and a little warmer than the shaded area outside his house . . . so the fan would be effective.

-ap

Art, TX!
       I'm gonna get all misty eyed and choked up next time we all argue :)
Irb has always been a friend, esp once I figured out how he thinks, and liking to
yank chains etc. he was the only one on for years while I commuted to work
and on 80 mtr mobile. its amazing to see all the mcmansions around him, and
him in that old home.

tx again - deano

Art,
    Many thanks for checking in on Irb. I know how controversial he is, but after all, he is a Ham and a fellow AM'er. Some of us agree with some of the stuff he says, and others don't. I'm one who usually doesn't. If anything happened to him I think we'd all miss him in one way or another.

I sent him a cellphone and wallwart charger a few months ago; one of the early types with big buttons, etc. that are more user friendly for older people to operate. I figured that if anything happened to him at least he could call 911 for help. Other people have sent him other phones, but Irb either lost the charger for them or they didn't work out for him.

Again, many thanks for looking into his situation. We all can rest a little easier, and I know Irb would enjoy the attention!
Very Best Regards,
                         Joe N3IBX

Similarly to some of those who have broke on through to the other side.
I remember back in the late 70's prior to being license and listening on a SW radio and hearing hams like WA3UAN, K1AJL and a few others who escape me at this time.  75 has been different without these folks.  Any others come to mind?

SK

W3CIC
W4VW
W2WAS
W1FAT (called HLR Smithy)
W2UJR
WB4VVI
W5PYT
K6HQI
N2SHG

---

http://amfone.net/LateNotables/latenotables.htm

---

WC3K
"Bowie Bill"
(http://amfone.net/LateNotables/bowiebill_small.jpg)

The old Green Mountain Net, 3855 Kc.

W1ZYZ
K1MNO
W1CNL
W1UCL
W1KKN
W3PHL
W3YAM
K1CSJ
W8MNQ
W1VMC

Some may not be SK's, but they do bring back memories.  Just went through an old log-book from 1965-66.

I visited Irb again today and found his kitchen and shack to be cool.  The heat wave has broken here for now.

I gave him a birthday card for his 78th birthday tomorrow.  His friend Nick was there trimming the grass.

He doesn't feel like operating due to his health.  I told him that he should at least get on the air every 4 days and let people know what is going on.

We fired up his station briefly while I was there and worked Carl WA2UJX and John K1DEU.

Steve,
I'm sure you meant W2UJR, Dick Haungs of Alden, NY.  Bruce Howes, W1UJR, is just fine, and anything but a silent key. ;D  Bruce, of course, modeled his call after W2UJR, who was his mentor.
vH

Hey Phil,

I ran into Leon Ingerick, N2HLT, a week ago at a WNY Hamfest.  He said he ran into you--I guess at another fester--and my name came up.  He actually told me that you had nice things to say about me.  Phil, you've just got to start telling the truth.  ;D

vH

Then there was W2OY.....All these old timers were fun to listen to when we were kids. They all had class and they all had carriers.

When I was a kid listning to 40 meters with my S-38 I remember W3EBM....3 empty beer mugs. Anyone remember him?
This was around 1956 or so.

I betcha all of Glenda's cat presents have "jimmies" on them - hi!
Joe N3IBX

Glad to hear that Irb is doing OK Fine.  Politics aside,
better to hear Irb on during the day with his unique style. than dead air static or slopbucket. 
Kudos to those who personally checked up on him.  Many people were wondering about him.

jim

Sure I remember Roger, the Philadelphia lawyer.  Or as ole' Mike, W2OY, used to call him, 3 Entire Bowl Movements. ;D ;D ;D

vH