NCCC Memorial Comments About Jack

NCCC Jack Leddy, N6EM SK  [SK means "Silent Key" in ham radio slang = in Morse code is "... _._" Jack will be indicated in commentators as "N6EM SK" and that call will not be heard again on the air for two years.  Later the N6EM call can be retained in the family if applied for within the next two years and can be obtained by a closely related family member -  Tom Nelson]

Jack was a very active member of the Northern California Contest Club:  a radio ham group.  Here are some comments from members passed on to me by Tom Nelson.

From Charles K. Epps  I am saddened to report the passing of long time NCCC member Jack Leddy, N6EM [Jack's ham radio call letters].  First licensed in 1935, Jack delighted at the eyebrows he raised when he gave ?35? as his check in Sweepstakes.  Operating from his small city lot in San Mateo, jack was always in there slugging it out to help NCCC chase the SS Club gavel.

As a child, Jack personally met both Guglielmo Marconi and Albert Einstein.  Not many of us can claim something like that.

Jack's health had been failing for quite some time.  He went off the air a few years ago when he and his XYL sold their home and moved into a senior care facility in San Jose.

Jack will be sorely missed.  We have lost one of the good ones.

73 de Rusty, W6OAT

Kurt Andress  kurt@k7nv.com

What a Terrific Guy!

I got to stop by Jack's place to do a few things for him, while on one of my Bay Area tower work trips a few years ago, before he moved.  It was just a pleasure to be with that man!
He told me stories about working my Dad (W6KUT), and duking it out with Dad for some DX in the old days, and some of the first years of the West Coast DX Convention when they all got to meet eacy other in person for the first time...great stuff  ;-)

He sure loved the avocation we all share, and the people in it!

Kudos, and Thanks Jack!

73, Kurt ; - (


Rob k6rb@baymoon.com

Jack was a gentleman and a good operator.  I can still hear him saying "easy money."  Save us a position at that big contest station in the sky, OM.

Rob  K6RB

Jim Brown k9yc@audiosystemsgroup.com

Yes indeed.  Jack was one of those who gave me the warmest of welcomes when I arrived here six years ago.  He very generously offered me his QTH for Sweepstakes, and I had a lot of fun there.  jack was also quite intelligent and well read.  I got the feeling he was a first class engineer and businessman as well.  He enjoyed walking, and I had hoped to join him on some of those occasions, but it was soon after that his health took a dive, and we never got the opportunity.....

David Aslin daslin@bayarea.net

Very Sorry to hear that Rusty.  As you say, one of the good ones.  I'll never forget his kindness and generosity and the fun of contesting with him at his San Mateo QTH.  Go gently Jack OM.  You're sorely missed.
73
Dave  WJ60 GeWGn

[Tom Nelson reports that Dave was one of Jack's good friends in the NCCC.  He is in England now and sent this from the U.K.]

Dean Wood cqden6de@gmail.com

I hae happy memories of Jack and missed his presence at NCCC meetings the last several years.

73...

Dean - N6DE

Kit  w6iso@sbcglobal.net

I'm going to miss the rascal.  We enjoyed many contests together and trips to the "cabin."

73 de Kit W6ISO

Bill Haddon haddon.bill@gmail.com

Jack and his lovely artist wife visited my home in Corte Madera at the Sept. 2004 NCCC meeting that Barbara and I hosted [as far as I know the only NCCC meeting held at a member's home in this century]

John Miller webaron@gmail.com

I have good memories as well.  His quick wit was appreciated.  He sent this to the reflector in 2009

A Dentist who practiced in Billings
Inserted electronic fillings
His patient's recourse
Was copying Morse
Or submitting to extensive drillings

Thanks for the smiles, Jack.

73
John, K6MM

T. L. Nelson  tlneelson@dcn.davis.ca.us

Yes indeed Jack is a great loss to electronics, ham radio in general, contesting in particular, NCCC and to his many friends and family.

I first knew Jack in high school when we both were 16 years old and living in Bakersfield.  In 1938, he and I, along with several high school friends, organized a high school radio club and obtained the club call N6EM.  His call was W6PLJ but when he found N6EM was available through the vanity program, he asked for and obtained it in memory of his old high school club call.

We both went to U.C. Berkeley but in the later part of his college years during WWII, he mysteriously disappeared - later found to have been commissioned an officer in the Navy and sent to do highly classified work both in the U.S. and England on behalf of the war effort.  Only very recently has the work he was doing been declassified and he has been able to talk about it as well as belatedly receiving public recognition for his war efforts from the Navy.

In more recent years it has been a joy to have Jack come up to my farm where we participated on several occasions in giving out Sutter County during CQO,  Dave Astin joined in with us on one of those occasions.

RIP  -  Tom Nelson, - W6EO

I will add to this with more accounts later.

Tom Leddy