A beloved member of the extended ARRL family has passed on. Evelyn
Gauzens, W4WYR, of Dunedin, Florida, died on January 31. She would
have turned 87 this week. An ARRL Life Member, Gauzens served as the
Southeastern Division Vice Director for more than 20 years. The ARRL
Board of Directors elected her as an Honorary Vice President in
2002. She may be best known in the wider Amateur Radio community for
having co-founded the Miami Tropical Hamboree and chairing it for 45
years. Past ARRL President Kay Craigie, N3KN, said that when she
became a Vice Director in 1990, Gauzens was there for her as the
"go-to" person for newcomers to learn the ropes.
"When I was preparing the supporting materials for her nomination as
ARRL Honorary Vice President, I learned about her role with Amateur
Radio at the National Hurricane Center," Craigie said. "She was a
leader, she had a sense of humor, and she was kind. She contributed
to Amateur Radio and her community. I am so glad that I could visit
with her again at Orlando, so her face remains fresh in my memory.
She was physically frail of course, but her mind was as sharp as
ever, and she left me laughing." Craigie expressed her condolences
to Gauzens' family.
Gauzens received a W4EHW/National Hurricane Center Award of
Appreciation in 2003 during the annual Amateur Radio Hurricane
Conference. That same year, she was honored for her 50 years of ARRL
membership. Gauzens was a member of the Quarter Century Wireless
Association (QCWA), a life member of the Dade Radio Club of Miami,
and a participant in the Florida Phone Traffic Net. She also
belonged to the A-1 Operators Club.
In 2001, the she was the recipient of the Citizens' Ham
Mobile-Marine Patrol (CHAMP) Award, presented to an Amateur Radio
operator for an exemplary act of service to the community during the
preceding year, or to an amateur who has demonstrated years of
distinguished service to both Amateur Radio and the community. She
was an ARRL VEC volunteer examiner. In 2002, Kenwood honored Gauzens
with its "Top Gun Award."
In 2012 Gauzens was inducted into the CQ Amateur Radio Hall of Fame,
recognized as "an active proponent of improved Amateur Radio public
relations" and as the principal on-site organizer - on behalf of the
ARRL as the host IARU Member Society - of the 1976 IARU Region 2
conference in Miami Beach.
"Love Amateur Radio and all those I have met in the fraternity,"
Gauzens said in her QRZ.com profile.
Gauzens' late husband Carl was W4DTJ, a call sign now held by her
granddaughter, Stephanie. Her son Alan is WA4ATF.
Arrangements are pending.
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