Sorry To Report Bill, KD0HG, Became SK 11/12/12

[Pete, WA2CWA]

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.

[W1RKW]

say it ain't so. Holy cow!

[K5UJ]

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

[Steve - K4HX]

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.

[WQ9E]

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.

[Todd, KA1KAQ]

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.

[Tom WA3KLR]

This is quite shocking.

God bless Bill and his family.

[W7TFO]

Sadly, the ranks are thinning .

R.I.P., boys.

73DG

[K1JJ]

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

[w3jn]

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 

[steve_qix]

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

[W3GMS]

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   

[Les Locklear]

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.

[Opcom]

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

[W2XR]

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

[K6JEK]

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.

[W9GT]

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

[KB2WIG]

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

[Steve - K4HX]

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?

[W2ZE]

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

[WQ9E]

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?

Steve,

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

[KB2WIG]

" 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

[k4kyv]

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.

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.

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

[K6IC]

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

[W8VG]

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.