A Great Friend and Milcom Monitor Has Passed Away

Photo courtesy of Kevin Burke

Donald G. Edwards Jr. of Northville, passed away suddenly at home after a short battle with cancer on June 28, 2012.

Don was born on April 6, 1954. He was an avid musician playing in many local bands: BlackRiver for 20+ years and more recently Steel Heart. He was also an accomplished Photographer with pictures published in Monitoring Times Magazine. He enjoyed listening to and taking photos of Military aircraft and he was a Licensed Ham Radio operator call sign N2NUM.

Don worked at Coleco industries for many years and at Universal Custom Mill Work.

Don is survived by his wife, Nancy Louer Edwards; daughter Niki (Stephen) Schaffer, son Shaun (Stephanie) Edwards, two beloved grandchildren: Lily Ana Schaffer & Colin Edwards. A brother Harold Tabor and many nieces.

Don was predeceased by his parents Lillian Miller Edwards & Donald Edwards Sr., and two sisters Donna & Audrey.

Family and friends can gather to remember Don at the house : 332 Fourth St, Northville Monday Afternoon, July 2, at 4pm. Arrangements are by the Northville Funeral Home. Condolences may be made to the family online at www.northvillefuneralservice.com.

With deepest sympathies to Nancy and the family.

Smoke off my friend.

An Old Milcom Friend Has Passed Away

One of the original Milcom newsgroup gang members, Jack Painter, has passed away. Many years ago when I first started the Milcom newsgroup, Jack was one of the first members I invited onboard to test the system. Many will know him by his email nickname "Oceana Radio." Jack was a great monitor, good friend and he will be missed.

Fair winds and fillowing seas old friend.

Below is a brief obit that has been passed around the radio newsgroups.

John Painter

Virginia Beach-John (Jack) Painter, passed away unexpectedly on November 23, 2009 in Virginia Beach. He was born in Erie, Pa. and was a member of Bayside Presbyterian Church and the US Coast Guard Auxiliary where he was a Communication and Rescue Coordinator. Jack served 8 years in the US Navy as a Submariner where he was a missile technician on the SSBN Andrew Jackson and he received numerous letters of commendation from his commanding officers. He graduated from Fairview High School and Thomas Edison University. He is survived by his loving wife of 22 years, Marie Painter; parents, Robert and Martha Painter of Erie, Pa.; sister, Mary Opitz and husband Chris; brother, James Painter and wife Kathy of Pittsburgh, Pa. and a large, loving extended family of stepchildren, brothers and sisters-in-law, nieces, nephews and his faithful Shih Tzu companion, Cupcake. A memorial service will be held on Saturday, November 28, 2009 at 3:30 p.m. in Bayside Presbyterian Church by Rev. Ben Skidmore. Memorial donations may be made to the Scleroderma Foundation, 300 Rosewood Drive, Suite 105, Danvers, MA 01923; Chesapeake Beach Rescue Squad, Ocean Park Rescue Squad or First Presbyterian Church of the Covenant in Erie, PA.

Lifelong radio buff Tom Kneitel dead at 75

Many that read this blog knew my old friend and former editor of Popular Communications magazine, Tom Kneitel. I have the sad duty to report that Tom passed away on Friday. You can get the complete story on my personal blog at http://monitor-post.blogspot.com/2008/08/lifelong-radio-buff-tom-kneitel-dead-at.html.