Well-known QRPer Bruce Muscolino, W6TOY, SK

Bruce J. Muscolino, W6TOY, of Silver Spring, Maryland, died August 20. He was 64.

First licensed in 1956 as K8BAL and well-known within the low-power operating (QRP) community, Muscolino was one of the founders in 1996 of the popular "Four Days in May" (FDIM) QRP convention and symposium sponsored by the QRP Amateur Radio Club International (QRP ARCI) each spring to coincide with Dayton Hamvention. He also was the first QRP contributing editor to the ARRL Web site. "QRP with W6TOY" ran for a year in 1999 and 2000. In its first installment Muscolino maintained that QRP was just part of the bigger picture of ham radio.

"I don't see QRP as special, just another fun mode; however, it really makes you use the best parts of your equipment," he wrote.

One legacy of Muscolino's Web column is the QRP Kit Matrix
he developed to offer readers a snapshot view of the equipment available to low-power enthusiasts. He also authored a couple of antenna articles in QST and was a regular contributor to the QRP ARCI's QRP Quarterly. Unfortunately, chronic health problems often curtailed his ability to enjoy Amateur Radio and to attend hamfests and conventions.

An ARRL Life Member, Muscolino played a significant role in the revival of the Tuna Tin 2 QRP transmitter. After ARRL Laboratory Manager Ed Hare, W1RFI, had located the original Tuna Tin 2 built by the late Doug DeMaw, W1CER (later W1FB), at a hamfest, he called on Muscolino to restore it "to its former glory," as W6TOY put it in his Web column.

Members of the QRP community--including some who had only corresponded with Muscolino via the QRP reflector and had never met him--this week offered words of praise.

"He was always very helpful to me and graciously offered his knowledge and experience on a number of issues," said Ken Hoglund, KG4FGC, in a message to the QRP reflector. Hoglund suggested that friends remember W6TOY by making a memorial contribution to an ARRL fund.

Curt Milton, WB8YYY, who met Muscolino when he did a QRP presentation at a Maryland hamfest, praised Muscolino's enthusiastic make-do approach. "He also frequently reminded us, as a QRP subculture, not to distance ourselves from other amateurs," Milton said.

Denny Payton, N9JXY, called W6TOY "a voice of experience who was always there and always willing to help."

Well-known Cuban amateur Arnie Coro, CO2KK, said Muscolino several times mailed him information on how to build low-cost QRP gear, carefully limiting the required parts to what was available in Cuba. Coro said W6TOY helped many QRP newcomers.

A service was held August 26 in Rockville, Maryland.

The QRP ARCI will hold the QRP SK Memorial Sprint
Saturday, September 4, from 1800 to 2100 UTC, CW only. The event will celebrate and honor "the QRP luminaries who no longer answer CQs," the club's announcement said.

Source: ARRL Letter - courtesy of The American Radio Relay League

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