It is with sadness we report the passing of QCWA Life Member # 8811,
William “George” Roach, VE3BNO of Ottawa, ON in June 2022 at the age of 94.
George was first licensed in 1946 as VE3BNO. He also held VE2CQD and
VE2AQG for a short time. He was also a Life Member of QCWA National
Capital Chapter 70 andmember of the Ottawa Amateur Radio Club (OARC).
Credit QCWA National Capital Chapter 70 for the following information.
George served as QCWA National Director in 1998-2003, on the Chapter
Relations Committee 2002-2010 and Activities Manager, liaising with QCWA
land conventions, organized the QCWA QSO Parties, as well managed the
QCWA 14.347 MHz and 7.035 MHz nets.
He received the QCWA Meritorious Award (1996), QCWA Presidential Award
(2006) and the QCWA Roll of Honour Plaque (2010).
As a member of QCWA National Capital Chapter 70 he served as Director
from 1981-1982 and 2003, 2010, President (1987-1988) and Organizing
Committee (Chair and Tours) for QCWA International Conventions held in
Ottawa 1996 and 2004.
George grew up in Renfrew, ON where his career spanned working in the
telephone and broadcast industry.
1942-1947 – Lanark & Renfrew Infantry Signals (Reserve) – Renfrew (C455679)
1944-1945- Bell Telephone Summer employment ( Dug a lot of post holes!)
1946-1961 – Bell Telephone Company of Canada – Lineman, Cable-splicer,
Frame-man, Central Office Technician, Central Office Foreman, Repair
Foreman, Installation Foreman, Special Services Foreman, Plant School
Instructor, No 5 Cross-bar Foreman. (Special Services included Mobile
Radio, Teletype, Government circuits, etc.)
1947-1961 – Third Signals Regiment (Reserve) – Ottawa1961-1997 – Radio
Stations CFRA (50 KW AM) and CFMO (100 KW FM) (Ottawa) – Chief Engineer
then Director of Engineering CFRA Broadcasting Ltd, CHUM Ltd and
Canadian temporary News Service.
1967-1996 Served as President and on the executive of the Central Canada
Broadcast Engineers (CCBE) and did some contract work for Canadian
Radio-Television Telecommunications Commission (CRTC).
Operated all bands from 160M to 1.2 GHz and built a lot of gear and
antennas.
Member of ARRL, RSO, RAC, AMSAT NA (# 247), AMSAT UK (#246) and OARC
while serving as Vice President (1961-1962 and 1968-1971), President
(1972-1974 and 2000-2002) and Treasurer (1993-1998), as well as
organizing and teaching many of their Amateur Radio Courses, and served
as the Club Historian.
1963 Built and installed VE2CRA, Ottawa’s first 2M FM Repeater.
1981-1983 Worked on batteries and modules for satellites.
1996-1998 Worked with the Telephone Amateur Radio Pioneers on the
development and installation of Amateur Fast Scan Repeater VE3TVA.
47 & 73,
Ken Oelke, VE6AFO
President, Quarter Century Wireless Association, Inc.