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SB SPCL @ ARL $ARLX006
ARLX006 ARRL Southeastern Division Vice Director Jeff Beals, WA4AW
(SK)
ZCZC AX06
QST de W1AW
Special Bulletin 6 ARLX006
From ARRL Headquarters
Newington CT July 24, 2024
To all radio amateurs
SB SPCL ARL ARLX006
ARLX006 ARRL Southeastern Division Vice Director Jeff Beals, WA4AW
(SK)
The Vice Director of the ARRL Southeastern Division, Jeffrey J.
“Jeff” Beals, WA4AW, has become a Silent Key. He died on July 20,
2024. Beals, who was born in 1951, devoted a lifetime of service to
amateur radio, having served in many local clubs, the ARRL Field
Organization, and on the ARRL Board of Directors. He was also
elected Vice President of the Quarter Century Wireless Association
(QCWA) in 2023.
Beals was first licensed at the age of 12 in the early 1960s in his
native Long Beach, New York. He was active with the local 5 Towns
Radio Club and Nassau County Amateur Radio Emergency Service and
RACES. He even had a 2-meter radio on his bicycle. He held Amateur
Extra Class and First-Class Radiotelephone licenses from the FCC.
His service with amateur radio emergency communications included
serving as Section Emergency Coordinator for the ARRL Southern
Florida Section, Assistant SEC, District Emergency Coordinator for
the Gold Coast District, Emergency Coordinator and County RACES
Officer for Lee and Palm Beach Counties. He was also a member of the
ARRL National Emergency Response Planning Committee. He was
certified at all levels of ARRL Amateur Radio Emergency
Communications Courses, public relations training, and advanced FEMA
training.
Beals received State of Florida commendations for service with
Hurricanes Andrew and Katrina. He was also deployed to Hurricanes
Frances, Jean, Wilma, Matthew, and Irma.
ARRL Southeastern Division Director Mickey Baker, N4MB, recalls that
Beals’ passion for service involved getting others active in service
as well. “Jeff was a connector – his ‘superpower’ was finding
volunteers and organizing events so that others would see the value
of their service. ‘We’ll see you next time.’ And you knew he would
call. He ‘volunteered’ many of us to charitable runs and bike rides,
the South Florida Fair and many other events that promoted amateur
radio, and hamfests. He volunteered entire clubs then challenged us
to show,” wrote Baker of his long-time friend.
Beals was also active with the QCWA which he most recently served as
national Vice President. He was Secretary/Treasurer of the Palm
Beach Chapter 111 since 1999 and a member of the national board of
directors and Historian. He was also a member of the Highlands,
Edison, Everglades & Citrus Chapters of QCWA.
He was a life member of ARRL, QCWA, OOTC, and AWA and a Fellow of
the Radio Club of America. Beals was also Past President of the Fort
Myers and West Palm Beach Amateur Radio Clubs and a member of the
Wellington Radio Club, Port St. Lucie Amateur Radio Association,
Florida Contest Group, Florida East Coast DX Club and life member of
the Fort Myers Amateur Radio Club, West Palm Beach Amateur Radio
Club, Gold Coast Amateur Radio Association and Martin County Amateur
Radio Association. Section Manager of the ARRL Southern Florida
Section Barry Porter, KB1PA, worked closely with Beals. “Jeff knew
the lay of the land and how to get things done. He showed me the
ropes so I could be an effective section manager.”
Beals held membership in the ARRL A-1 Operators Club, Old Timers
Club & Royal Order of the Wouff Hong. He also was named “Ham of the
Year” by the West Palm Beach ARC. He was an ARRL Certified Examiner
and Volunteer Examiner with ARRL and a Volunteer Examiner with W5YI
and Laurel VECs.
Baker said the boardroom will not be the same. “I will miss Jeff at
ARRL Board meetings – he would lean over and give me insight into
ongoing (live) issues, and we always discussed difficult issues.
Jeff has long-time friends, some from high school, on the ARRL
Board,” said Baker.
Beals is survived by his wife, Myra Kitchen, K3PGH. Donations in
memory of Jeff Beals may be made to the ARRL Diamond Club, a fund
which supports ARRL. A memorial service will be held Friday, July
26, at 11:00 AM at The Beth Israel Memorial Chapel, 11115 Jog Road,
Boynton Beach, Florida 33437.
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