Originally I posted a notice in the Silent Keys forum. However, as with other widely well known highly active OTA figures in amateur radio, I feel Herb KV4FZ deserves mention on the QRZ front page. I knew Herb personally and am saddened further at the release posted on the ARRL News page regarding his passing. For whatever reason they decided to regurgitate the highly controversial legal woes that Herb once faced, tainting his reputation, and ignored more positive angles. Biased and in poor taste IMO. An alternative POV to that saga can be seen here, which contains more biographical info as well. Big thanks to Lee @K2HAT for finding the following far more respectful and proper memorial seen below. RIP Herb, KV4FZ (WØVXO), DX'ing, contests, bossa nova, were enhanced by your reliable contributions. John, WØPV Herbert L. Schoenbohm, KV4FZ SK Activist, Communicator Herb Schoenbohm Dies at 84 by Don Buchanan - May 3, 2020 Herb Schoenbohm who, since his arrival on St. Croix in 1968, was a Republican activist, weather prognosticator, both a radio personality and radio installer and so much more died Wednesday, April 29, in his bed at home with his wife Monika on the east end of St. Croix. He was 84. “He went peacefully,” his eldest son, Chris, told the Source. His presence on the island was felt across a broad spectrum of fields for the next 50 years. He was active in radio – ham radio and public stations like Radio One and Paradise Radio; politics – he was accused of making the local Republican Party his own party; communications – he worked for many years with the police department installing radios in its vehicles; and weather prediction – he had a degree from the University of Minnesota with a major in geography with an emphasis on political geography and climatology. He was “an amazing father,” Chris said Saturday. Schoenbohm’s other surviving sons are Eric, Tim, Kevin and Thomas. Monika, Schoenbohm’s wife of 52 years, told the Source that when he was young Schoenbohm dreamed of playing football. But when he was 15, he was on a roof in Rock Islands, Illinois installing an antenna when he lost his footing and fell two stories, breaking broke both legs and an arm and ending up in a coma. A doctor told the family he probably would not make it. An intern from Brazil was not ready to give up. He put a ball in Schoenbohm’s hand and encouraged him to squeeze it. Schoenbohm recovered, and though his dream of playing football was gone he took from the intern an interest in all things Brazil. His interest in Brazilian music became almost an obsession. He became part of band playing Brazilian, Cuban and Latin music. When he settled on St. Croix, he played a regular gig on the piano at the Buccaneer Hotel for several years. He also played other clubs. The experience might have affected another choice Schoenbohm made. His father was one of the founders of Camp Courage – a camp to help handicap children. Schoenbohm spent the summers in his late teens teaching a program he initiated – Handi Ham. He taught clients that no matter their disability they could become ham radio operators. His skills as a ham radio operator also helped when he was a sometime weatherman. Monika said he would often contact hams on other islands to see what their weather was. This was extremely helpful in the days before satellites and the internet in predicting hurricanes. The 13th Legislature honored him in 1980 for the service he helped provide during hurricanes Frederick and David. In 1990 he received the Governor’s Medal and was declared a “Hero of Hurricane Hugo” for maintaining communications circuits. Monika said he was also busy during Hugo rescuing people in his police car, which had a flat tire. Schoenbohm worked for the V.I. Police Department from 1978 to 1992 as a communication specialist. He worked from 1996 to 2012 as fleet manager for Property and Procurement. In recent years Schoenbohm was often in the news for his involvement with the local Republican Party. He was chosen often to represent the Virgin Islands at the Republican National Convention. He also served four terms as the State Chairman of the V.I. Republican Party. In 2016 two groups were fighting for control of the local party. John Canegata, leading one faction, called the other faction the Herb Schoenbohm party. Schoenbohm held strong views. This writer debated him several times about global climate change. He denied man was causing the climate to change. But though neither ever convinced the other, the debates never descended into name calling. Former Sen. Clarence Payne also had many debates with Schoenbohm. “I found him to be respectable in debates, which as an opponent I appreciated in this climate of vitriol and confrontation,” Payne said. “Herb stood his ground but allowed one to freely share a differing viewpoint.” Roger Morgan, who ran Paradise Radio station and had a popular morning show in the early part of this century, said when he heard the news of Schoenbohm’s death, “Herb was my official engineer for my Paradise Radio station, WVVI on St. Croix. But, more than that, he was a friend and a genuine wizard at dealing with broadcast engineering solutions in an environment where sheer ingenuity often replaced more traditional solutions to emergencies that occur with frustrating regularity. I’ll miss my friend and Republican leader.” In the early ‘90s, Schoenbohm worked for several years as a staff aid for Delegate to Congress Victor Frazer in the U.S. House of Representatives 104th Congress. He also worked several years as an engineer for Ackley Communications. His sons, each in their own way, have followed in their father’s footsteps by going into careers involving communication technology. However, the greatest lesson Chris said he learned from his father was, “Always help people when you can.” https://stthomassource.com/content/2020/05/03/activist-communicator-herb-schoenbohm-dies-at-84/
Friends, a 'Republican activist' is an oxymoron. Republican advocate would be more sensible a description. BTW the larger political parties in VI are neither Rep or Dems...at least unless things changed recently. I knew Herbie. He hosted me at Saint Croix when I visited WVVI with my family (was a 15 year old kid) in 1970. Fine guy. I don't know how, let alone why, he got caught up in that black box stuff. Frankly it didn't look good for anyone concerned. That he fought tooth and nail to get back OTA is testament to his dedication to ham radio. Herbie was quite active until fairly recently and I worked him again,oh, was it last November? Found memories. Fond ones. RIP
Not just regurgitate, but assign nearly 40% of the obit to the controversy. ...more positive angles very few hams ever approach - let alone attain. In VERY poor taste IMO, too. Inexcusable.
My last QSO was 10/20/2019. He is in my log more than a dozen times. All on 160 meters. All but one CW. He was a good CW op. RIP OM Herb. Bill WS4Y
I was not aware there was an issue with my email address, it’s kevinmodz@hotmail.com Heck no wonder why nobody replied to any of my sale ads. My email address was not there doh. Thanks for letting me know
Well this wasn't a good thing to read. I have bought things from Herb, paid attention to his posts on different reflectors and was friends on other mediums with Herb. Rip bud. --Shane KD6VXI
W1YW: You just had to bring politics into this. Why not just shut up about your political views and opinions and give this man the respect he deserves. I hate guys like you who uses a forum like this to echo your political views. There are lots of political forums out there for that. I don't care a crap about your political views and I am sure many others on here either. Let's talk ham radio or better, in this post post, say something related to the topic. NJ0F
He was a very nice gentleman, lived a very long life, marriage, and nice family. Looks like the last time "we" worked was Dec of 2006 on 160. THX for getting this put up John... The league should be ashamed of themselves for their OBIT. Erika DD
I emailed the following to ARRL HQ: Dear ARRL, If a societal norm in writing obituaries is to focus on negatives and mistakes during a person’s life rather than positives and contributions, then folks might read more obits? Negative news on someone else’s dirty laundry makes us feel vindicated? I’m attempting to rationalize constructive justification for the negative ARRL SK obit on Herb who I have never known but choose to respect as his biography suggests his many positive life contributions to amateur radio. Even if you can’t manage to grasp my points, at least respect his family and re-post his SK notice with less ridicule of the deceased. Regards, Dave Clark W8DVE
You may imagine I commented because it upsets you. If that makes you feel good to believe that. The words 'Republican, activist' are in the earlier posts. They are the part of the headline and news story. Not originating with ME. If you had READ them, you would realize this did not originate from me. I am glad I live in a country where people like you can't string me up, bud. Especially when they can't fess up to their errors. Have a most pleasant evening
