Subj : ARRL Southeastern Division Vice Director Jeff Beals, WA4AW, SK
To   : QST
From : ARRL de WD1CKS
Date : Wed Jul 24 2024 01:22 pm

07/23/2024

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 & 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[1], a fund which supports ARRL The
National Association for Amateur Radio�. 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.

�

With thanks to Section Manager of the ARRL Southern Florida Section, Barry
Porter, KB1PA, for assembling information for this memorial.


[1] http://home.arrl.org/action/Donate/Diamond-Club

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