N9arq/sk

We buried a friend today. I can't remember a time in my life that I didn't
know Ray Warren. He ranked right up there at the top, so high that I'm
pretty sure it's safe to say that he was just about "my
favorite person". Ray was at almost every birthday celebration I had
as a child, at least the ones that I remember well always include him,
Jackie, and a bunch of other crazy blind people. As long as I have been
playing the piano, Ray's tuning hammer has been the only one I'd let touch
my pianos. I'd rather play an out of tune piano than have someone besides
Ray tune it.

Ray was my Elmer. Among Ham Radio operators, "Elmer" is the person who got
one started, helped one to get interested and excited about the prospects of
talking across the world on little more than a piece of wire. Ray was one
of the people who administered my Novice class test back when I was little
more than 12 or 13 years old. He came to my house, gave me the written test
(along with another Volunteer Examiner or two...) and gave me the Code test
(yes, I really did have to take and pass a Morse Code test in order to get
my license). Ray probably stretched it a bit on my code test.. he kinda
coaxed one of the answers out of me.. nothing I wouldn't have figured out
myself eventually, but hey.. ya know. Since then and every time since then
that I've turned on a 2-meter radio I've wondered if I'd hear Ray that day.

I don't think a single conversation about pianos that I have ever had with
anyone I've ever spoken with didn't include at least an aside about Ray. I
can't tell you how many times I've vehemently encouraged someone to "Just
call Ray. He'll know what to do about your piano" . And he always did. A
little over a year ago I called up Ray and told him I
wanted to learn how to tune and service pianos. As always, and without
any asking of him, he stepped up and helped me out. He gave me some tips,
showed me the ropes a bit, put me in touch with the right materials to start
learning, and even pretty much just out the blue showed up on my door step
with a couple of very old, beat up pianos for me to learn on. I still don't
have it figured out, but I'm more determined now to learn it. I don't know
if it'll ever actually "pay the bills", but I sure hope that some day it
will at least help with them. I'm now more determined than ever to get the
temperament thing down, and hopefully someday soon, I'll also know what to
do about your piano.

Ray taught by example, and what an example it was. Sometimes by what most
would call a good example, sometimes not such a good example (at
least by some folks standards), but always with a heart of gold. I
learned a lot from him, and still had much to learn. Ray worked hard, very
hard every single day, but he played hard too. Boy, could he play the
piano, and sing.. nobody enjoyed playing and singing more than Ray.
Man, I could go on and on and on, but I'm out of Kleenex, so for now, I
think I'll stop. There will be plenty of time for more stories in the
coming weeks, I'm sure.


Ray, as your key goes Silent, and your tuning hammer is packed away for the
last time, know that every time I turn on a radio I'll listen for a second
or two to see if your voice will fade in just one more time.
Know that every time I sit down to play a piano, I'll think of you and how
much better it would be if you had tuned it. Rest well, my friend.
You've earned it. We'll all miss you for a very long, long time, and we'll
catch you on the flip side.

Kenny, N9MVF

 

Kenny, that's a fine tribute to your elmer. I'm sure you were both blessed to have that friendship.