HFU HF Underground
General Category => General Radio Discussion => Topic started by: corq on May 07, 2022, 2126 UTC
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Kevin Miller, KM6AU, passed away May 5th 2022, from cardiac complications following a stroke. He is survived by 4 brothers and 2 sisters, and his longtime domestic partner, Lori Easterly.
He enjoyed the more esoteric radio hobbies, including “DXing” shortwave pirates, beginning his love of radio as a Caltech student making CB contacts via 70’s-era Tandy walkie-talkies. He never tired of hearing "weirdness" on the bands.
Kevin graduated from Caltech with a BS in Engineering in 1979. From home automation systems in the early 1980’s, to Industrial Control Systems and highway toll system infrastructure, he enjoyed a long engineering career, retiring in 2009 to move to Florida. Kevin was keenly curious to learn about this fabled “Florida man,” and inquire if he could apply for membership to this elite and fearless group.
He loved a variety of cats, big and small. He enjoyed the many friends and contacts he made at Winterfest, the radio forums, IRC WUNCLUB, and HF Underground Discord chats.
To his internet forum friends, he was simply the mischievous “Al Fansome,” and he will be dearly missed.
(https://i.imgur.com/c2MNgyX.png)
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My deepest condolences to Kevin's family and Lori. When I got back into shortwave/pirate listening in the Fall of 2013, I quickly found the HFU and the irc pirate chat. Things were still in turmoil over a recent pirate war, so to speak, and as a newbie in the irc chat, I messaged Al to ask him his take on the decline of the FRN and the pirate war. He replied at length and made it clear what happened. From that point on, I was wary of a certain element of pirate radio. I will miss those middle of the night/early "off the cuff" morning posts on the irc and the Rocket chat! I miss the hijinks between Pigmeat and Al.....that was a formidable force to be reckoned with! Rest in peace Al....you will be remembered in the hobby as an icon!
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makes me sad to hear that --
rest in peace and may he catch all the weird dx
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Very sorry to hear this. My condolences to Lori and Kevin's family.
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Damn...I didn't know him personally, but enjoyed his presence and will miss his input. RIP AF & condolences to you Corq & the Miller family.
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Though I never had the chance to meet Kevin in person, we "knew" each other online for many years, back to the old IRC days, and probably before that. My condolences to his and Lori's families. He will be greatly missed.
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Thank you to everyone here <3
Fansome enjoyed the hobby to almost the exclusion of all other hobbies. When he worked late nights in Pennsylvania in the 90's and early 2000's, he'd listen for pirates from his test-bed "trailer" in Harrisburg. We became friends on IRC when I needed a quick resource on desert beacons while visiting Vegas for Defcon (spoilers: I never found any) but he had follow up security questions about a project he was working on, and we sort of grew fond of each other from there, finally meeting person at a DC-area meetup the year after.
He was painfully shy in person, but we hit it off, and he moved down a year later to join my household and rogue band of cats. As I understood it, prior to us meeting, he'd worked many long hours in the toll system projects, listening to the bands all night long (hence those weird, exhausted missives at 4am...). You guys helped him get through some very tough times through the early years before we'd met.
I hope it will provide comfort to you guys to know he had the radio at his bedside, enjoying his last few months with what he loved most. You are a wonderful community, and I'm so glad you were for here for us. <3
PS: And yes, I called him "Fanny" around the house, much to his chagrin...
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I'm very sorry to hear of this. I always enjoyed the banter between Al and Pigmeat. Its been a little darker around here since.
All the best from myself and the OP to you Corq and friends and family.
+-RH
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Thank you to everyone here <3
Fansome enjoyed the hobby to almost the exclusion of all other hobbies. When he worked late nights in Pennsylvania in the 90's and early 2000's, he'd listen for pirates from his test-bed "trailer" in Harrisburg. We became friends on IRC when I needed a quick resource on desert beacons while visiting Vegas for Defcon (spoilers: I never found any) but he had follow up security questions about a project he was working on, and we sort of grew fond of each other from there, finally meeting person at a DC-area meetup the year after.
He was painfully shy in person, but we hit it off, and he moved down a year later to join my household and rogue band of cats. As I understood it, prior to us meeting, he'd worked many long hours in the toll system projects, listening to the bands all night long (hence those weird, exhausted missives at 4am...). You guys helped him get through some very tough times through the early years before we'd met.
I hope it will provide comfort to you guys to know he had the radio at his bedside, enjoying his last few months with what he loved most. You are a wonderful community, and I'm so glad you were for here for us. <3
PS: And yes, I called him "Fanny" around the house, much to his chagrin...
You were the best thing to ever happen to him, Corq. I can remember the night he told me he was moving to Florida. He asked me if he
should do it. I told him, "Why not, it's not like you're getting any younger." and he was off to Florida. BTW, that "Fanny" thing provided me with much ammo in our 20 year "feud."
I'm still in shock over the news.
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Al Fansome isn't dead, he's resurrected at CalTech. He always has and always will as long as that institution survives. Hail the risen Alluvial O. Fansome!
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Al Fansome isn't dead, he's resurrected at CalTech. He always has and always will as long as that institution survives. Hail the risen Alluvial O. Fansome!
Speaking of shock, I'm in shock to see you again after a very long absence. Welcome back!
I don't read most of the boards here these days, and just happened to see that you had the latest comment and I thought, huh? Where you been? I honestly thought you must have passed away.
Regarding Fansome, I'm afraid I didn't have enough interactions with him. I know he was an important figure in the pirate community, but I came along too late to get the jokes which clearly were among friends. But I am sorry to read about his passing. Here's hoping the best for those he's leaving behind.
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Speaking of shock, I'm in shock to see you again after a very long absence. Welcome back!
Glad to see you back as well Pigmeat!
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Thank you. I'd given up broadcasting in 2009, then stuck around long enough to protect others from the Wabbit gang's clutches. When I found out the Wabbit was actually dead and not faking it again, I moved on.
I wouldn't have missed my pal Al's send off for anything in the world. His likeness should be put on Mount Rushmore.
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Thank you. I'd given up broadcasting in 2009, then stuck around long enough to protect others from the Wabbit gang's clutches. When I found out the Wabbit was actually dead and not faking it again, I moved on.
I wouldn't have missed my pal Al's send off for anything in the world. His likeness should be put on Mount Rushmore.
Fair enough. Just want you to know that you've been missed around these parts. Al will be too. Take care, but do check in every now and again.
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Fansome lives on in those who believe ;-)
Pigmeat was Fansome's spirit animal.
I am thankful for Pigmeat's return.
Long live Pigmeat.
Long Live Al Fansome.
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I appreciate that, Corq, but weren't goats Al's spirit animal?
I was merely a replacement for his childhood hero, Arnold Ziffle.
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Top for Fansome fans. You know who you are. I'm talkin' to you Belinda.
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I'll always remember the "check your tire pressure" messages from the early 2000s on FRN thanks to Al.
His legend lives on.
MP
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Fansome lives on in those who believe ;-)
Pigmeat was Fansome's spirit animal.
I am thankful for Pigmeat's return.
Long live Pigmeat.
Long Live Al Fansome.
Amen. God bless all of you.
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I'll always remember the "check your tire pressure" messages from the early 2000s on FRN thanks to Al.
His legend lives on.
MP
With a digital tire gauge. Those slide things couldn't be calibrated for lab accuracy.
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The clique that ran the FRN could never get Al's quirky sense of humor and they booted him. That was the beginning of the end for the FRN. Al came here, the majority of the FRN membership followed, and the FRN lies in the dust heap of internet history.
I told them "No Al, no me" and came here as soon as I found out what they'd done. They spent the next two years trying to get Al's real name out of me. One minor problem, it had been nine years since I'd done Radio Al Fansome, I have a terrible memory for names, and Al did the QSL's. I couldn't have told them if I'd wanted to.
Make sure you check out the penguin migration in the fall and be careful of low fliers.
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I miss you ol' pal, on this Memorial Day. You were the King of The He-Man Dx'ers.
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I am so sorry to hear this. My thoughts are with Corq and all the families. It's great to put a face to the name that I recognize all the way back to my early days in the FRN. So many funny and weird times. Al and I would sometimes chat about different topics on IRC. The one that I remember was that he was an ex brother-in-law of Gary Richrath, the lead guitarist of REO Speedwagon. Since they were one of my favorite bands back in the day, I had lots of questions.
Thanks for sharing the picture Corq.
Pigmeat - great to see you back too. I remember logging one of the last RPI shows during the waning days of the FRN. Lots of good memories.
Z
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Zane, if it was late spring of '09,it was my last broadcast. How are tricks?
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I am well, thanks. I'll send you a PM.
Z
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Top for Fansome fans. You know who you are. I'm talkin' to you Belinda.
It's true. I don't know what she'll do without him now!
PS: Belinda, I have his poster of you, if you'd choose to sign it, I'm sure it would make him smile even in heaven.
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I am so sorry to hear this. My thoughts are with Corq and all the families. It's great to put a face to the name that I recognize all the way back to my early days in the FRN. So many funny and weird times. Al and I would sometimes chat about different topics on IRC. The one that I remember was that he was an ex brother-in-law of Gary Richrath, the lead guitarist of REO Speedwagon. Since they were one of my favorite bands back in the day, I had lots of questions.
Thanks for sharing the picture Corq.
Pigmeat - great to see you back too. I remember logging one of the last RPI shows during the waning days of the FRN. Lots of good memories.
Z
Thank you Zane, I know Fanny appreciated your reports.
I know it sounds silly, but Fanny's pirate radio personality was his "other life", but a place where he found solace, friendship, fun, and inspiration. I'm glad to have heard from you all. It takes the edge off, it really does.
Peace be with you all.
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I am so sorry to hear this. My thoughts are with Corq and all the families. It's great to put a face to the name that I recognize all the way back to my early days in the FRN. So many funny and weird times. Al and I would sometimes chat about different topics on IRC. The one that I remember was that he was an ex brother-in-law of Gary Richrath, the lead guitarist of REO Speedwagon. Since they were one of my favorite bands back in the day, I had lots of questions.
Thanks for sharing the picture Corq.
Pigmeat - great to see you back too. I remember logging one of the last RPI shows during the waning days of the FRN. Lots of good memories.
Z
PS: Zane, The REO Speedwagon reference was in fact, true.
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I appreciate that, Corq, but weren't goats Al's spirit animal?
I was merely a replacement for his childhood hero, Arnold Ziffle.
Fun fact, Fanny's brother is a hobby goat farmer, I'm not sure if he ever posted pix here, but his brother's hobby farm was the source of most of Fanny's goat pictures...I hope...
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I'll always remember the "check your tire pressure" messages from the early 2000s on FRN thanks to Al.
His legend lives on.
MP
He was *so* sad that Obama stole his tire pressure thunder. I think he was comforted to know that he was preaching the gospel long before others understood the precious importance of TIRE PRESSURE!
/here's to a tire pressure gauge in every pot
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REO threw out ton's of plastic guitar pic's w/"REO Speedwagon" on both sides after each show into the crowd early on. I'm sure I wasn't the only 14 y.o. that said "Screw practicin! I'm on the road to fame and fortune now!"
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REO threw out ton's of plastic guitar pic's w/"REO Speedwagon" on both sides after each show into the crowd early on. I'm sure I wasn't the only 14 y.o. that said "Screw practicin! I'm on the road to fame and fortune now!"
:D
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Ah crap!
This is sad news.
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Top.
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The world has lost yet another kind soul.
RIP Handsome Al Fansome.