AmateurRadio.com

Daron Libby, a longtime associate of Wayne’s, has allowed us to publish some of the notes that he has been getting since his passing:
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Wayne Green left this world on Friday the 13th, 2013, 10 days after his 91st birthday, and 10 years after the closing of 73 Amateur Radio Today. I worked for Wayne and his wife Sherry, for 20 years, and was Managing Editor of 73 Amateur Radio Today when it closed.
Wayne surely was a most interesting person. I’ve seen him described as being the most interesting man on earth. I can agree with that. He had detailed ideas about everything, and thought on multiple levels. Working for him has left me with many memories and many bits of knowledge that would not be mine if I’d never met Wayne. I feel bereft that he is gone. My deepest condolences to his family.
One year he hired a bus and took his whole Peterborough staff up to the White Mountains for an outing. While hiking the trails, I picked up a huge caterpillar and was showing it around. Wayne saw it and said, quite loudly, “Get rid of that thing. It’s poisonous! One bite and you’ are dead!” He paused for a few moments, while the other people who were there gasped and cringed, and then he said, “So make sure you don’t bite it.”

Joyce Sawtelle, Keene NH

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I have followed Wayne’s career since the 1950s and can truly say that I enjoyed every minute of it. His many contributions will never be forgotten.
I can hear him saying to all of us:

“Be not burdened with times of sorrow.
I wish you the sunshine of tomorrow.
My life’s been full, I savored much;
Good friends, good times, A loved one’s touch.
Perhaps my time seemed all too brief.
Don’t lengthen it now with undue grief.
Lift up your heart and share with me.
God wanted me now; he set me free.” (Author Unknown)

Dick Gobel, KØUS
Fairbury, Nebraska

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Wayne Green, W2NSD/1 was an iconic figure in our great hobby even when I first became involved in 1966. Over the years we all learned a lot from The Man and his publications. I am pleased that Wayne decided to place the 73 archives in the public domain so now they belong to everybody.
In recognition to his great contribution to our great hobby it was our privilege and honor to bestow the New England Amateur Radio Festival’s LIFETIME PASS award on W2NSD at NEAR-Fest IV in October 2008. He attended our ‘fester many times and presented forums on a couple of occasions. Deerfield NH is very close to his home QTH.
I am sorry that he won’t be able to use his Lifetime Pass any more. We shall miss him.
73 old friend,

Mister Mike, W1RC
Benevolent Dictator, NEAR-Fest

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I began reading Wayne’s 73 Amateur Radio Magazine when I was 12 years old, and Wayne’s enthusiasm played a big role in my earning my ham license in 1967. Wayne wrote the most idiosyncratic, most fascinating, and LONGEST editorials I have ever read. His tales of operating on the bleeding edge of the ham radio hobby, often from exotic locations around the world, were inspiring.
In his writings, Wayne often mentioned how much more he could accomplish if only he could hire more good people. In 1978, I responded to one of Wayne’s editorials with a letter, and he quickly called my bluff (probably because I was a ham operator), making me a job offer — sight unseen! I drove to New Hampshire, found Bleak House, and soon learned that I was by no means the first — and would not be the last — of Wayne’s “Saturday Night Specials.” Such was the nickname applied to employees who Wayne hired on a hunch, often over a weekend, without telling anyone else at his company that a newcomer had joined the staff. In the end I spent 25 years with Wayne and various successor companies. Thanks for the opportunity, Wayne!
For several years, my office was a few steps from Wayne’s in Bleak House, and every day was an adventure. We were all very excited to be on the ground floor of the personal computer magazine publishing industry — no one more than Wayne. He loved starting new magazines for technology enthusiasts. In the pre-Internet days, the enthusiast magazines were essential in spreading new ideas in computer hardware and software. And thanks to Wayne, I had the opportunity to meet industry pioneers like Steve Wozniak, Bill Gates, and the late Gary Kildall (look him up!).
Wayne took great pride in his ability to turn a phrase. One of his favorites — and one that I still trot out today when the situation warrants: “I may not be wrong, but I’m not far from it.” Truer words were never spoken … I think (?)
Wayne was a man of action; ANY idea was worth investigating, worth pursuing. If I heard it once, I heard Wayne say it a hundred times: “Raise Hell, and put a brick under it.” It was his way of saying: “Don’t just sit there, stir the pot. DO something!” I think Wayne lived his life by those words, raising Hell at every opportunity.

73 Wayne
From Jeff DeTray NK1F

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I knew Wayne since the late 1950’s. I remember John Peterson, ex-WA2FMF, the late Larry Levy, WA2INM, and this scribe helping Wayne load the truck for his big move from Brooklyn NY to Peterborough, NH in the early 1960’s. I remember him a few years later stopping by our shop in Brooklyn just a week or so before our move to Los Angeles. When he found out I was driving and had a 2-meter radio in the car he asked I write a short article about the trip West from a hams point of view. That first article lead me to some three decades writing the Looking West FM column for 73. And lather through Wayne my introduction to Dave Bell, W6AQ, (then W6BVN) that lead to an entire career change for me. I could go on and on, but there are many others whose lives were in some way touched by Dr. Wayne S. Green, W2NSD, and want to leave their thoughts. So let me close with these simple words: “73 old buddy. I know that we will see one another again on the other side of the great ethereal abyss.”

— Bill Pasternak, WA6ITF – Amateur Radio Newsline

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Though I never had the chance to meet him, his stories, strength and optimism lived in all of the staff of NHToDo allowing me a glimpse into the life of an inspiring man. My condolences to you all and his family in this time of loss.

Janet F. Cote
New Hampshire ToDo

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I never knew Wayne in person but knew him every month since 1969 as a novice and through the years until 73 ended. I also read 80 Micro and looked forward to the editorials and off the wall covers in both magazines. I loved him for the many projects in 73 and cursed him at the same time. He forced me to learn. Taught me how to acquire parts for projects and gave me the passion for Ham radio I still have after 44 years. I still have many of those projects kicking around here. Most were useful, all were fun to build and use. Ham radio hasn’t been the same since 73 stopped publication and now we have lost another of the greatest generation.

73 old friend
Butch WA8X ex KB8CK, WB8HYD, WB4MDB, WN4MDB

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I met Wayne for the first time back in the 70′s when I was in college.
Microcomputers were the hot commodity then with experimenters, and I had some ideas for ham radio applications, but lacked the funding to kick start either a kit or assembled product. Wayne was going to give a talk on how to break into the coming microcomputer boom at the Atlanta Hamfest and computer show.
I sat through the presentation, nodding at all the glowing future in microcomputers that Wayne painted for us. After the talk, I hurried up to meet him, and ask him for some business contacts. The idea is that I figured there were guys out there brimming over with money waiting to jump at my ideas, and fund me.
What I got instead, was something I was not expecting. “First thing you do,” Wayne said, “is get a haircut, shave off that beard, and put on a suit and tie. Because whether you like it or not, those are the kinds of people you will have to deal with.”
Of course, I was the typical geek ‘wooley booger’ college student, with long hair, beard, and wearing a T-shirt and ‘holy’ jeans. I was taken aback, because I figured that anyone could see I was a genius once I got to talk to them, and cleaning up and dressing up for the occasion was not even on my radar.
It took a while for that advice to sink in, but eventually I did just that, and even though I didn’t start my own business, I ended up doing embedded software development in a number of different situations over a three-decade-plus career.
Wayne will be greatly missed.

73,
— Dave, N8SBE

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I can remember reading Wayne’s editorials in 73 Magazine as a kid…he was so passionate about what he believed in, and I found his eccentric views very good food for thought. I hope someone continues his site and his legacy. Guess it’s time to get out my old copies of 73. It’s amazing how time passes so quickly. RIP, Wayne

–Brian/WA3ITE

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To a legend …
I read his magazine and learned a lot from his publication. He was one of a kind…73 OldMan…
dabo082

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Brad WD9HDZ subscribed to Wayne’s 73 Amateur Radio Today magazine while living in W Germany & W Berlin in the 1970s, doing his US national service in American Forces Network Europe. 73 was first ham mag for him/us, even before QST & prior to acquisition of his amateur license. I read some but not all issues of 73 before acquiring my own license in 1980. We retain all those copies, which fill numerous boxes. Love Wayne, hate Wayne or both — even simultaneously. We were privileged to see him at the Dayton HamVention one year. He will be missed, & will surely not Rest In Peace — not if he can help it!

73,
Brad Scott WD9HDZ
Susie Scott N8CGM

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I worked as Managing Editor of 73 Amateur Radio Today magazine from 1990 to 1992. Wayne was an inspiration to me when I first got into amateur radio and it was a real honor to work with him at the magazine. My adventure at 73 and Radio Fun was an amazing and exciting chapter in my life and I always enjoyed listening to Wayne’s stories throughout my stay there. Wayne was certainly well-known in Peterborough, NH. One advertiser sent a letter to Wayne with nothing more than Wayne’s photo and Peterborough, NH. There was no name or street address. Wayne was so thrilled when the Post Office delivered the letter to him that he had posted on his office door for some time. I wish Wayne the best on his new journey and will always have fond memories of my time spent working with him. Never Say Die.

– Bill Brown WB8ELK, Huntsville, AL.

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I picked my call in honor of Wayne years ago. If it wasn’t for him I wouldn’t be a ham. He genuinely made the world a more interesting place.

73 Garth VE8NSD

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Farewell Wayne, you will be missed. I have enjoyed reading your articles since I was a Novice Ham.

73, Bob Montgomery, W3ZR

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We never met in person, but by happy chance we had a few phone conversations when I needed fact-check some details about his time at the Bliss Electrical School.
Farewell and thanks for your insights, Wayne!

John Libby ’80
Montgomery College Alumni Association

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I’ve been reading his magazines since the days of 73 and Byte. He made a great contribution in getting the PC industry started. I was very pleased to exchange e-mail with him in recent years. I’m so sorry to hear he’s gone.

Mark Thorson

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Ever since my first encounter with amateur radio at age 12… 1954 , I heard among the Cuban most relevant ham operators of the nineteen fifties about Wayne Green. Later in life , and all along my career, reading W2NSD´s writings illuminated me on some very controversial topics. The 73 magazine collection is a long standing contribution to our hobby that most be preserved for the future generations to enjoy. Amigo Wayne, have a nice journey in your new life … we will always remember you as one of world´s great radio amateurs of all times.

Prof. Arnaldo Coro Antich AKA ¨¨ Arnie Coro ¨¨ Host of Dxers Unlimited radio hobby program at Radio Havana Cuba Emergency Coordinator IARU Region II Area C

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I had just wondered a couple days ago about Wayne. I kept many of his 73 magazines. Perhaps his spirit was reaching out to me that day. I think he hit the gates of Heaven running.

Greg Root

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Hello, and to Wayne, wherever you are…

I worked at 73 for a little over a year 1964-5, even lived in the main house for awhile, and met some remarkable friends, some of whom I am still close with.
It was a very intense year for everyone involved.
I was a very young 19, and I learned a lifetime of useful things in that year — we all did.
All of us at the magazine seemingly did more in a week than the rest of the world did in a month – it was just like that. Activities extended far from the obvious realm of running a magazine, photography, layout, printing, binding, mailing… we got involved in all the aspects of ham radio, experimenting, building, running the station on the mountain, satellite and moonbounce, Ham TV, cooking, hiking, crazy road trips, Mensa activities, feeding Wayne’s cats and snakes, and getting involved with luminaries, both ham radio and socio-political, who showed up at the door seemingly all the time.
We were all a film within a play within a performance art presentation within a huge building populated by random geniuses and golden hearted friends. It was New York, it was the wilds of New Hampshire, it was You Can’t Take it With You, it was Peyton Place, it was Our Town.
It really was the most amazing of all times, and, just think, it continued for almost 50 years more!
Wayne, you are one of THE characters of all time, and anyone in the world who did NOT meet you was less fortunate than the rest of us.
Wherever you are, don’t rest. Keep it up. Keep everyone interested and on their toes. Complain. Rattle cages. Do what you do, for eternity.

73, my friend.
Barry Ober
ex- K2YDD, Yankee Doodle Dandy

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I had the privilege of knowing and working with Wayne Green for the past 12 years. Wayne wanted to start his 26th magazine from scratch in June of 2001 and asked me to run it. He said, “I’m almost 80 … don’t make me do this by myself!” Over those years, Wayne was a mentor to me that anyone would be blessed to find once in a lifetime.
Some of things he said to me:
– If you keep your nose to the grindstone, you’ll wind up with a flat nose.
– Let’s wait on that, and panic later.
– One of these days, we’ve got to get organized.
– I couldn’t fail to possibly disagree with you less.
– … and stuff like that there.
– Don’t ever put your feet up .. because the day you do, your done.
– I love to share! And then he’d laugh.

Wayne left this note for you all …

The wall clock clicks out the seconds
With so many yet ahead, I’ve ignored them
A battery keeps the clock going
I wonder how my own battery is doing?

The one with the most toys wins
Awash in toys, I’ll pass on
What did I win?
Now what happens to my toys?

I’ll leave books, records, tapes, and photos
By the thousands
A lifetime archive
Worthless to anyone but me.

Pictures of family and friends
Treasured books and music
The mileposts of my life
All will be headed for the trash heap.

Like my father, grandfather, and great grandfather
I’ll be another gravestone
In a northern New Hampshire cemetery
And the world will carry on as if nothing had happened.

I have no complaints
I’ve enjoyed the world and helped it a bit
What would I change if I could do my life over?
Get a thick pad and I’ll make a list.
… Wayne

Godspeed and Happy Trails my old friend,
Daron H. Libby

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I’ve known NSD since the 70s and enjoyed many conversations with him. Very intelligent and forward thinking man. Take care Wayne!

Dave W5SWL

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I believe Wayne saw DEATH as an invisible friendly companion on our life’s journey, reminding us NOT to wait till tomorrow! But, TO DO what you meant TO DO yesterday! We must LIVE our life NOW, rather than just PASSING through it! Over the years, I’ve received lots of strength from HIS WISDOM!
Wayne stayed in the GAME OF LIFE right to the end! Touched me and many other millions! Thanks for the privilege!

Harvey Keye
Nashua, NH

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Never Say Die! I’ll never forget the year I worked for Wayne in Bleak House… in the days KiloBaud was new…and 73 was humming.
Someone wrote you couldn’t leave Wayne out of the history of Ham Radio…and he’s right. There may have been some meanderings, but Wayne was true to his school…and it was his school. No denying the man of ideas was prolific…sadly a cover story I was writing for his last magazine was written when I learned publication had ceased. It should have been a sign that the man was finally slowing down for his final rest.
The world somehow won’t be the same without W2NSD…

73 and SK old friend…

Warren Elly
W1GUD
Tampa, FL

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I loved 73 magazine.
I loved Wayne’s editorials.
I loved reading the books he recommended.
He will be missed.

Peter Walker VE3WPH

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Hey old buddy, I will miss you. NEVER SAY DIE is a phrase that will be with me till it’s my time.

Art Bell Sirius/XM

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No history of amateur radio would be complete without a chapter devoted to Wayne. Whether it was RTTY, SSB, FM or home computers he was there first. Truly a man of vision.
He will be missed.

Tom Byers WB9YTG

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I first heard Wayne on Coast to Coast with Art Bell many years ago. He was a genius. He will be missed.

David Collins

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He often wrote about the “angel” that brought a box of radio parts to his church that got him started in electronics at a young age. I’d say he gave back that and much more with his work at CQ and 73 magazines over the last 60+ years. 73 Wayne – figure out how to key the sun on and off a few times to send us a message.

Fred Studenberg, W4BF

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A truly “exceptional” American has passed from the scene.

Bon voyage, mon ami,
L. Hupric
N8DFC

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Such sad news, but you’re right Wayne is in a higher place ready to begin a new adventure! He was such smart and caring man!

Pat McGovern
IDG Publications

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Wayne Green was an inspiration to me for many years. I first learned about him on the Art Bell program and was impressed by his intelligence and enormous common sense.
Many of his “hints” have been incorporated in to my life. I have read most of his publications and was an initial subscriber to “Byte” magazine. This evening I will mix up my next batch of silver colloid suspension which has kept me healthy for a long time.
I suspect his intelligence, compared to the average idiots he dealt with, made him very frustrated and angry as he got older, especially watching the decline of our country over the last two decades.
He was so correct regarding being an entrepreneur compared to “having a job.” His positive messages always were energizing to me in pursuing my own business activities.
Any time I sent him an email, I received a response almost immediately!
I hope that he was not finally done in by the Coumadin racket, and that all of his good health efforts were done in by a outdated blood pressure control chemistry.
I suspect that he was not an easy person to live with as he was very firm in his beliefs, and not inclined to consider alternative view points. I hope my suspicion is wrong.
My sincerest best wishes to Wayne’s family. He was an incredible guy who added a great deal to this planet while he was here.

Christopher Anderson
Morristown, NJ

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I’ve just this very moment discovered the shattering news, that my long time friend and mentor has passed away to pastures new in the afterlife. To say I’m shocked would be a vast understatement! He was without doubt a truly remarkable man. And a remarkable human being. Wayne’s brilliant mind seemingly knew no bounds. He was an innovator beyond equal. But more than that, he was ever generous with his time for me. Wayne could always be counted on to tell the truth and never minded the consequences. He will be missed. But I will miss him and his unstinting friendship forever. R.I.P Wayne. And give ’em hell wherever you happen to be!
Ray J. Howes, G4OWY.

I use to talk with Wayne on the phone. Always interesting and ALWAYS told it like it was. He wouldn’t mince words.

Years ago I bought one of Wayne’s VCR tapes. Wayne taught the entrepreneur how to promote/advertise their business at little to no cost. That tape was a Godsend in helping to keep my business afloat during some mighty rough times.

Thanks Wayne! Gonna miss you!

73, Bill – WA8MEA

I’d just like to share this. I became aware of W2NSD back in the early 60s. Being on 2 meters AM I worked him from my NJ home when he was up in New England (NH I believe). He ran a Zeus with an amount of elements antenna that was strung through the trees and pointed SW. He would call CQ at the low end and then coninue working his way up the band until so many could say they spoke with him. He would work so many in an evening. He would work states south of me that I couldn’t hear with my beam south, but I could hear him off the back of my beam. A lot of folks have the same story probably. He must have had a primo site and setup. Those were the days. He was an ICON.