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This new page was created: 18 JANUARY 2010
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If you worked down range, I would like to hear from you, especially if you know of any range rats who have passed on and not listed on Page 1 of the Death Pages, Where there is an alphabetical list (table listing) of all known range rats who have died, as reported by other range rats.
If you are a new range rat who just found this particular page FIRST, be sure to check the Page 1 of these Range Rat deaths, (see link above).
If you can provide any information about where they worked and what years, the year they died etc etc it would be helpful. You can see from many of the below entrys what type of information has been supplied.
If you know any of the range rats listed on these page and want to send more information about them, you can do that too.
Page THREE of Range Rat deaths covering the deaths reported in the year of 2005-06 can be found by clicking here.
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I first started listed Range Rat deaths in 2005 when my Range Rat Introduction page was first published, it was only one short page to start with, but after many years it became too long and so in 2007 I created a separate page listing just those who RRs who died and notes from other RRs who reported that info and now its been expanded to two pages.
Please look over the names below, perhaps you knew some of these RRs or worked with them,
If you have new information you can contact me by clicking
Here to Send Email to Joe
"One less Range Rat is not a good thing".
06 DECEMBER 2007, GRANDSON REPORTS DEATH OF BERNIE RYAN:
I recently learned about the death of Bernard "Bernie" Ryan who was the Instrumentation Manager for RCA at many downrange stations such as Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, St. Lucia, Antigua and Grand Turk. This news was from his grandson, John Miele. John said Bernie, who was also a World War Two hero, died three years ago in 2004.
24 NOVEMBER 2007, SON REPORTS DEATH OF FATHER:
Rick Wirtz, son of Eugene Wirtz wrote in RR sign-in book that his
father was stationed at Turk from 69 to 73 and passed in 1990.
- If anyone else remembers Eugene Wirtz from the range you can send more info. about his other range experience etc, by sending me an email and it will be published here.
24 NOVEMBER 2007, DEATH OF RCA EMPLOYEE ROLAND HOEPPNER REPORTED:
Benny Juhl wrote recently: "Just want to report that Roland Hoeppner died 13 September 2007. He was an old friend who was on St Lucia, Fernando de Noronha,
Antigua, GBI and worked at the Cape for years."
I personally knew Roland from GBI Telemetry when we worked together in the 1960's, he was a range old timer, a brown bagger and very likable guy and had a scraggly goatee when I knew him.
24 NOVEMBER 2007, PHILL REICHERT REPORTS DEATH OF PAA EMPLOYEE:
Stan Perkins, who was a Pan Am Weather troop and died
about two years ago (2005?).
- If anyone else remembers Stan Perkins from the range you can send more info. about his other range experience etc, by sending me an email.
13 OCTOBER 2007, DAUGHTER REPORTS DEATH OF TOM HADDEN WHO WORKED AT THE DOM REP TRACKING STATION:
I heard from Susan Hadden Ross last Aug 07 telling me that her father Tom Hadden died 27 Feb. 2006. Tom worked for PAA in security and you can see a picture of him on my #08 Dominican Republic AAFB Tracking Station Page.
- If anyone else recalls Tom Hadden from the range and can send more info. about his other range experience etc, please send me an email.
13 OCTOBER 2007, GLENN BROWN REPORTS OF TWO DEATHS:
In Sept 07 Glenn wrote me that he "wasnt sure that Gerry Berube and M.A.J. Carter were ever 'assigned' downrange, but both spent much time downrange and on ships and both these gentlemen were my personal friends for years, and certainly
considered themselves Range Rats. Either way, they're both on a different Range now". Glenn gave this info:
Gerry Berube was in many management positions on the contract, and was Downrange Manager and also Ships Manager. He left the Range to become Project Manager on SURTASS Project out of VA. He retired as a Director with GE. He is well known by most people that were around in the latter years.
M.A.J. Carter (3 given names, known by Maj) was leader of 1.16 Radar in the early days, and went with Berube when he took over the Downrange office, then the Ships Program, and then to SURTASS. He was Berube's "right hand man", and was in charge of Training, Quality Control, Recruting, and other assignments. In these positions, he made many extended trips downrange, and rode the ships many times, over a period of several years. Glenn wasn't sure when these two men died, anyone who knows, please let me know.
18 SEPTEMBER 2007, JOHN ROBERT BERRY'S (DOM REP AAFB) DAUGHTER WROTE ME OF HIS DEATH:
Deloris Berry sent an email in Aug '07 telling me that John Robert Berry died in 1987 in Collinwood, TN, John worked at the Dominican Republic base in the late 1950's. I remember him as I also worked there at the same time, John worked for PAA in security. See a picture of John Berry on my #08 Dominican Republic AAFB Tracking Station Page.
- If anyone else recalls John Berry from the range and can send more info. about his other range experience etc, please send me an email.
18 SEPTEMBER 2007, GENARO MUSI DEATH ADDED TO LIST ABOVE:
Jim Edwards sent an email recently: "In viewing the list of Range Rats that have died I realized that Genaro Musi was not included. Geno was a weather troop that
worked at Cape Weather before coming downrange about 1958. He worked at GBI, Ascension, and Antigua. He retired at Antigua, and died there about 10 years ago".
07 SEPTEMBER 2007, RCA/CSR EMPLOYEE BOB FLOWERS DIES.:
- Glenn Brown reported it to me yesterday and today Jack Tolman sent me this message from L.L. Smith: "Hello, Friends. Sad to report I just had a call from Joanie Flowers who informed me that Bobbie Flowers passed away yesterday, Wednesday 05 September 07 @ 1345. He had been suffering for some time with liver problems and had hopes of traveling to Shands in Gainsville FL for consultation toward a possible transplant. She indicated, as per Bobbie's wishes, there will be no services. Please pass to those on your email lists who may have known Bob. Will pass on any future info I receive."
- 11 SEPTEMBER 2007, Since Bob did not sign the Range Rat Sign-In Book I asked for input from those who knew him.
- John Gladden wrote this: "I met Bob Flowers when I was assigned to Mahe. The first words he spoke to me were in the Satellite Club Bar where he said "Give me a light before I kill you!". To which I replied, "Sure, I'll give you a light for that cigarette and let it kill you!" He then introduced himself to me and we became close friends. After he transferred to Pretoria, in 1971, I shipped his car, which he had left in my care, to Durbin for him. We were stationed together again at Antigua in 1974/75. I am not sure what his official title was at Mahe, whether it was Comm Manager or IM. He was the senior RCA rep on station, but all they had responsibility for was comm. At Antigua he was Instrumentation Manager and acting Telemetry Manager for Ascension. Go Figure. Some people might have a different opinion of Bob, but I found him to be one of the most straight forward people I met on the Range. He was strict on enforcing company policy and procedures but was very fair in dealing with individual employees as near as I could tell. I was the Supply Supervisor for Pan Am on both stations, so I dealt with Bob frequently business wise. If any business issues arose between our areas of responsibility, they were handled professionally without finger pointing and creating discontent. I believe he actually improved the Pan Am/RCA employee relationship on the stations where he was assigned.
- Jim Edwards sent this info about Bob Flowers: "Bob served in the Air Force . Duty in the Middle East among other places, He was in Pretoria in 1966-67, in Trinidad in 1968, Ascension at least part of 1973, Antigua as IM 1977, GBI as IM 1980-81, TEL-IV after GBI and Later SRO at the Cape.
- I remember Bob Flowers from Ascension when he was Telemetry Manager when I was stationed there 1971-72. Looks like us old timers remember different time periods of when we worked with Bob. No matter, it's just good that we can still remember!
14 AUGUST 2007, DEATH OF ART RAMSDELL REPORTED BY HIS SISTER:
- I received this email below, maybe someone can help her: "Art Ramsdell, who is pictured on your USNS Coastal Sentry photo, died July 31, 2007. I have been attempting to find Ed J. Gallagher to notify him and any of Art's other downrange
friends. I am Art's sister. Anyone who would like information
on Art's death and can identify himself as a friend, can contact
me at this email address: myrt@copper.net . I have a copy of one of Ed's
poems, he'll know which one. Signed Myrt Townsend (myrt@copper.net)
from Lewisville,Texas."
05 JULY 2007: ED BINGHAM (RCA), AGE 71 OF MORGANVILLE NJ DIED JUNE 28, 2007 :
- "Speedy" Collier sent me an email with details about the death of Ed Bingham, which was in an online newspaper. It was a memorial page that had more details about his life, and had his picture and a guest book that you could sign. The link in no longer available but if you email me I can send you the text.
Ed's wife Kathy signed the Range Rat sign-in book for him on 28 Aug. 2006 with these comments: "Ed Bingham, was down range from 1963-1969, as an RCA radar tech. He started out on GBI for a few months, then was sent to Ascension for a year. We were newly-married then, and I stayed in Recife for several months, where he was able to spend a couple of days every couple of weeks. He got a transfer to Grand Turk, where we remained for a year. (I was a volunteer x-ray tech at the local hospital for the base medic and the local British Dr. - Dr. Elizabeth Johnson). The Grand Turk technician was on strike!) Ed was then transferred to Antigua, where we spent our final 4 years downrange. Our second child was born there. Ed transferred to RCA's computer division in NY in 1969 and we moved to NJ, where we have resided ever since. Ed retired in 1999 from Hitachi Data Systems.
03 JUNE 2007, DEATH OF ROLIN EBANKS (PAA, CSR) REPORTED BY JIM EDWARDS:
- In an email received today Jim said: "I report with great sadness the death of Rolin Ebanks in Jacksonville FL on June 1st. Rolin was a maintenance/support supt
downrange for many years with Pan Am, and CSR. At various
times he was at GBI, Eleuthera, Grand Turk, Antigua and
Ascension. I understand from his family that there was a
memorial service on 17 June in Jax."
13 JUNE 2007, JERRY DUFOUR (RCA) DEATH REPORT :
- Jack Tolman forwarded me an email from Larry L. Smith with this news (edited slightly) as follows:
"Sorry to be the perennial bearer of ill tidings, but there was a death notice in the 02 June 2007 Florida Today paper for our good friend, Jerome E. "Jerry" Dufour, age 71, who died Wednesday, 28 May 2007. I had seen Jerry a few months ago here on Merritt Island and did not suspect he was having any health issues. His wife, Emi said it all started with Jerry’s car being rear-ended on his way home from work Friday, 28 May. The impact drove his car into a vehicle in front of him with enough force to break the seatback. Later at home he collapsed and was taken to the hospital with kidney problems and subsequently succumbed to a heart attack.
Jerry was a top notch RCA Range Rat and was respected and liked by all who knew him. He spent the majority of his time downrange at Grand Turk & Antigua working in the MIPIR Radar section and enjoying life with friends and a “Crown and Ginger.” Along with his wife, Emi, he was a longtime saloon keeper in Cocoa at the Big Que Tavern where many happy hours were enjoyed by many people, Range Rats and the “normal” populace. Emi is understandably devastated by this sudden and tragic loss. A Jerry Dufour Memorial get together was planned for 17 June 2007 at the Big Que Tavern in Cocoa on Dixon Blvd."
15 MAY 2007, ONE MORE RANGE RAT DEATH TO REPORT :
- Jack Tolman wrote me in Feb. '07 that Walter R. Falk of Augusta GA had passed on, Jack doesnt know what islands he worked on or if he was just an uprange PAA employee, Falk retired after 40 years with Pan Am Airways and Johnson Controls at Cape Canaveral, FL.
- If you knew Walt Falk and can remembers working with him and where, please send me your input.
07 MAY 2007, WHILE SEARCHING THE WEB RECENTLY ...I LEARNED THE DEATH OF ANOTHER RANGE RAT:
- John Handschin who lived in Fort Pierce FL died on 13 April 2007. John worked for Pan American World Airways as supervisor of Meterology aboard the tracking ship USNS SWORDKNOT, and at the downrange station of Ascension Island. He also worked at Swan Island (Honduras) weather station, worked with the US Coast Guard North Atlantic Weather Patrol for several years acting as supervisor aboard the USNS SAMPAN HITCH and also aboard the Coast Guard Cutter, YAKUTAT, on ocean station "Bravo". In later years he was a science teacher at Crosby Junior High School, Pittsfield, Massachusetts.
- 14 MAY 2007, Bob Baker from Crestview,FL knew John "Jack" Handschin and he provides this info: "He was Wx Supv on the Sword Knot when I came aboard as SOM in Jan 61, and I believe he was still
there when I left in Aug 61. I had lost track of him until I read of his death in your 07 May 07 notice. He did a good job, and had a very "wry, dry" sense of humor. He seldom failed to refer to Pan Am Division Meteorologist Gerry Finger as "Ferry Ginger". His Wx Obs team consisted of Phil Reichert and Karl Doughty for most of that tour."
- If you knew Handschin and can remembers working with him and what year(s) they were please send your input.
NEWS MAY 2007: CHARLIE WRIGHT REPORTS OF TWO DEATHS:
Charlie Wright signed the RR Sign-in book 28 Mar. 2007 and said
"Bob Shaffer died in N.Y. in the '80's and
Bob Husby died at Freeport GBI in '92. They were true Range Rats, the likes of which I still miss".
12 APRIL 2007, ONE MORE RANGE RAT DEATH TO REPORT :
- Jim Edwards writes: "Just learned recently of the march 22 2005 death of Jim Whimore (aka "Lurch") from brain cancer. Jim was a Comm Troop on the
ships in the 60's. He worked for me on the Sword Knot and also the Vandenberg. A real nice guy and a good worker."
6 APRIL 2007, ANOTHER RANGE RAT DEATH TO REPORT :
- Don Smith, a relative of Terry Smith emailed me that "Terry passed away on March 10th, 2007 after a quick bout with Pancreatic Cancer. Terry worked on all the ships as well as down range sites". Terry signed the Range Rat sign-in book in Dec 2005 with a comment that he worked at "Cape Timing & Firing, Tel-4, DLM engineer".
- 6 APRIL 2007, AN EMAIL LETTER FROM KENNETH SMITH JR, BROTHER OF TERRY SMITH: Kenneth writes: "I, sir, am the youngest brother of Terry Smith who as you know is no longer with us. I miss him a great deal. I am also a historian and I teach high school which is only relevent in that what I am proposing is going to take years. In memory of my brother and in honor of all of the rest of The infamous Boys from RCA I would like to write your stories. Please contact me if you are interested in sharing your
stories". His email address is kensmith0130@comcast.net
MARCH 2007, JACK TOLMAN FORWARDED AN EMAIL FROM SOMEONE WHO NOTIFIED HIM OF YET ANOTHER RR DEATH:
- Thaddeus "Thad" John Linder died 08 March '07. Thad was born in Dayton Oh and came to Brevard County in 1956 with his family. He was a graduate of Satellite High School and was employed as a radar technician for 30 years for RCA and CSR. Tolman's friend had this to say about Thad: "We just learned of Thad Linder's death after a battle with cancer. Thad came down Range in the early 70's when so many young family members hired on to be Radar Operators. Thad appeared as the poster child for the Endless Summer and introduced surfing to the Range. He was a super quick learner and one of the few guys to actually complete a CREI course with honors. As he matured at the Radars uprange he became a real outdoorsman and enjoyed his pair of Rotweilers, SUV with balloon tires and Budweiser. He was a good troop and mastered the mystery of the MOTR (Multiple Object Tracking Radar AN/MPS-39) operation and was working at the Merritt Island MIPIR at the end. Some oldtimers will remember his father, Tom, as a real gentleman and as Pan Am Data Handling Engineering Manager left his imprint on all the Range computer/DHS systems. Regards, LL"
MARCH 2007, FRED PERKINS EMAILS ME OF ANOTHER RR DEATH:
- Jack Ryals, whose full name was Andrew Jack Ryals, passed away 07 March '07. Fred worked with Jack at Ascension and Antigua and think he may well have worked at other stations also. Jack was a communications technician.
26 FEB. 2007, JOHN GLADDEN REPORTS DEATH OF WIFE OF FRANK MAHONE:
- Violet Mahone passed away 23 Feb 07. John says: Frank was Comm Manager on Antigua when he was there in 1974 and that Frank passed away some time ago. Some of the other Range Rats might want to know about Violets passing, since she was down range with Frank and many of them knew her."
- You can see her obituary by clicking here.
11 FEB. 2007, FRED PERKINS TELLS OF TWO NEW DEATHS:
- Ed Munger passed away sometime in Jan 07. Fred knew Ed at Trinidad
in 1963, and that he served earlier on the Globetrotter Van in Chile,
and pretty sure at other range bases, but am not sure which ones.
- Lou Holtkamp passed away the morning of 04 Feb 07. News was received
from Bruce Watson. Lou was PAA Weather Supervisor on Antigua and
Ascension, and served earlier on Eleuthera, possibly other bases. He
later moved to the Cape as Weather Supervisor, and Fred believes he retired
from that position.
NEWS FROM 24 MARCH 2007: DALE BEADLE REPORTS DEATH OF HIS FATHER-IN-LAW:
Dale Beadle of Louisville KY, who signed the RR Sign-in book in 2006 said that Herb La Loge, his father-in-law had passed away a few years ago. Herb worked for RCA at GBI in the 70's and worked for RCA approx 6 years. (Herbs full name was Herbert F. La Loge, and from the SS records his death was on 05 April 1999),
NEWS FROM 24 MAR. 2007: FAMILY SIGNS IN FOR FATHER WHO WORKED DOWN RANGE:
Read the RR sign-in book entrys of Dec 19, 2005 made by Blair Simpkins for father Jerry Simpkins who died in 2003 and the entry Jason Simpkins signed in for his father on Sept 29, 2006. Relatives are invited to sign the RR book when a range rat has died. These were interesting reads, especially since both sons spent some time downrange too.
End of Range Rat Deaths reported in 2007.
Click here to go to PAGE ONE: Alphabetical list of Deaths and
Notes from 2009-10.
Click here to go to PAGE THREE: Death Notes from 2005-06.
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