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Silent Key Memorial
In amateur radio, when an operator becomes a Silent Key, their transmitter goes quiet for the last time. This page honors the LARC members who have passed on — operators who shared their knowledge, their time, and their love of the hobby with our community.
“Every ham leaves a signal — in the logs they kept, the elmers they were, the contacts they made, and the community they built.”— Longmont Amateur Radio Club
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What Is a “Silent Key”?
In amateur radio tradition, “Silent Key” (SK) is the term used when a licensed amateur radio operator passes away. The term comes from the era of Morse code, when an operator’s key — their primary means of communication — fell silent for the last time. It is a term of deep respect, used by operators worldwide to honor those who have gone before us. On this page, LARC honors the members of our club family who have become Silent Keys.
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Notable LARC Silent Keys
SK
W0ENO
Frank Duff
Silent Key: 1984
Frank Duff held the callsign W0ENO and was a cornerstone of LARC and the Longmont amateur radio community. After his passing in 1984, the club adopted W0ENO as the club’s callsign in his memory — a lasting honor that carries his call forward every time a LARC member identifies on the air. Frank’s legacy lives in every QSO made under W0ENO.
SK
K0AP
Ray Parnaby
Silent Key: 2021
Ray Parnaby K0AP was instrumental in re-energizing LARC in 1969, helping to build the club into the active organization it became. His leadership during LARC’s formative years shaped the club’s culture of mentorship and community service.
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LARC Memorial Roll
The following LARC members have become Silent Keys. We honor their service to the club and to amateur radio. This list is maintained by the club and updated as members pass on.
If you know of members who should be on this list, please contact the club secretary.
Entries need only: callsign, name, Silent Key Date, and any brief notes you have.
| Callsign | Name | Silent Key | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| W0ENO | Frank Duff | SK 1984 | Club callsign W0ENO adopted in his memory |
| K0AP | Ray Parnaby | SK 2021 | Re-founded LARC in 1969 | WA2EKU | Bob Doran | SK 2025 | N0OUW | Jerry Schmidt | SK 2024 | W0GMO | David Miller | SK 2023 | W0ATA | George Stevens | SK 2023 | KE0SI | Doug Altman | SK 2022 |
| Additional entries to be added — contact the club secretary if you know of members to include. | |||
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Reporting a Silent Key
If you learn of the passing of a LARC member or former member, please notify the club so we can update our records, add them to this memorial, include a remembrance in The Splatter newsletter, and inform the membership.
To report a Silent Key, please contact the club secretary with:
- Operator’s name and callsign
- Date of passing (approximate is fine)
- Any years active with LARC
- A brief note about their involvement if known
- Family contact (optional — in case members want to send condolences)
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FCC Callsign Retirement
When an amateur radio operator passes away, their personal callsign eventually returns to the FCC callsign pool and may be reissued to another operator after a waiting period. This is separate from a club or trustee callsign like W0ENO. If a family member would like to apply for a vanity callsign to keep a loved one’s call in the family, information is available at arrl.org/vanity-call-signs ↗ and the FCC’s Amateur Radio Service page ↗.
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“Their signals may be silent, but their influence echoes in every contact we make,
every new ham we welcome, and every net we check into.”
73 — Longmont Amateur Radio Club, W0ENO
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