Michael Ray Sullivan, K7HQ, Silent Key

[W8XR]

Michael Ray Sullivan, K7HQ, passed away at the age of 55 on Nov 2 2009, after a long struggle with leukemia.

He was an avid Extra class op, loved DX and worked most countries/regions with only a few missing from his log. He enjoyed operating boat-anchors as well as modern rigs and developed custom logging and station control software. He was an early packet operator and had early contact with the ISS.

Mike loved radio - any kind of radio - restoring classic and rare commercial radios from the 20's, 30's and 40's, he always had a restoration project (or six) on the bench. His love of old radios didn't stop with restoration - he also engineered and reproduced classic tubes. His knowledge of the golden age of radio was encyclopedic and inspirational.

He was also an avid astronomer, with wide knowledge of the visible universe and the physics behind it, and applied his invention skills to interfaces and unique controls for his equipment.

He considered amateur radio to be his connection with the world; to be the "first Internet". Radio was such an important part of his life that he asked his sister and nephew to compose a song about his love of radio, his wife and family ("Radio Man" at http://www.myspace.com/fae). He considered the amateur community to be his brotherhood and would want to recognize them as having contributed something distinctive and special to his life.

He is survived by his wife Pat, sons Ian, Ryan and Kelly, his mother Marion, and sisters Georgia, Phyllis and Mary.

If you were a friend of Mike's, on-air or off, and would like to express any thoughts to his family, please forward them to Jon Dwyer: dwyerjh@hotmail.com).