I used to listen to the TechNet on the W2VL repeater every week whenever I had the time free, and you just never knew what the topic(s) were going to be! Dick was an absolute fountain of technical and RF knowledge. It was great to have gotten to know him, at least a little, through the VHF contests and then the TechNet.

This year I have had some medical issues and some personal issues that have slowed my hamming activities, and then of course COVID-19 came along and messed up the rest of the world just for spite:) –But I was on again, finally, for UHF contest today, and some stations I worked told me that he had passed –and what a shock!! I wonder if there is anyone who has compiled any of Dick’s “treatises” on all those technical subjects over the years. He used to write up many replies to questions on the old VHF Email list, but since the Technet was all verbal, I wonder if maybe anyone ever recorded any of it?? It would be a most fitting (and useful!!) tribute to Dick to have this information compiled somewhere.

Along with many others in the Amateur community and beyond, I was deeply saddened to read the news of the passing of Dick Knadle, K2RIW. He was an embodiment of all that is good and noble in the Amateur’s Creed, as well as being a fine human being. This is a great loss for all of us, but most of all for his family and loved ones, to whom I offer my sincere condolences.

From late 1969 until early 1971 I had the privilege of having Dick as a generous mentor in radio and electronics. It started when I attended an Advanced Class licensing course that Dick taught through the Suffolk County Radio Club, then in Yaphank, NY. He taught fundamental concepts and principles using clear and concise explanations, not rote memorization or how to cleverly pass a multiple choice exam. I still have vivid memories of Dick holding up the ARRL Handbook and imploring the class to “read this book!” It was a daunting challenge for a thirteen year-old ham, but Dick’s drive and enthusiasm were powerful motivating forces. He also handed out 2N35 transistors and encouraged us to build something with it (he never specified what, exactly, but that was the beauty of it). Thanks to Dick (plus lots of studying), I passed the Advance Class exam with relative ease. He kindly (or perhaps regrettably – hi) gave me his phone number, which I used on nearly a weekly basis for posing questions while studying for the Amateur Extra exam, passing that months later, and for the FCC First Class Radiotelephone licensing elements, passing those exams months afterwards. He never turned me away and was always generous with his time and effort. Subsequent to all of that, he invited me to his house for a long and memorable afternoon visit.

During that fine day, Dick gave a visual demonstration of a particular concept in a way that perhaps few would devise, and one that I never forgot. He had borrowed a CCTV camera and monitor from a friend (not exactly a household item in 1971). When he pointed the camera at the screen of the monitor, the image was that of the monitor, within an image of the monitor, again within an image of the monitor, ad infinitum. “That,” he excitedly exclaimed, “is feedback!” He went on to show me the operation of a spectrum analyzer using a prototype of the AIL 707 that he helped design at Airborne Instruments Labs. The lessons continued to wherever Dick’s brilliant mind wondered, and I happily went along for the ride. When the lessons concluded, I was further privileged to have dinner with Dick and his gracious wife, Charlene. She was as kind and welcoming as was Dick.

At the conclusion of dinner my original mentor, my dad, picked me up from Dick’s house for the ride home. After giving dad the grand tour, Dick turned to him and heaped praise upon me for passing the commercial license exams. Dad, though not a ham, had the utmost respect for any degreed engineer, so those generous words of praise really hit home. His face lit up as bright as the sun, filled with pride, and I am forever grateful to Dick for that precious memory.

Whenever I asked Dick a question whose answer was far beyond my young ability to comprehend, he would gently reply, “For that answer you’ll have to wait until you go to engineering school.” This was a fortunate coincidence for me since it was exactly the same answer that my dad sometimes gave when teaching me electricity as a very young boy. The seeds were planted, and I did eventually earn a BSEE from Brooklyn Polytechnic. In addition to my dad, I am, once again, forever grateful to Dick Knadle, K2RIW.

Charlie Sottile WA2EGT

“Be kind to each other.”

-Dick Knadle K2RIW at the end of every Technet
Rest well my friend.
Alan Feller
KC2RFN

I have known Dick Knadle K2RIW for what has to be at least 40 years. I have always found his knowledge of just about any subject to be astonishing. We were in very similar lines of work (military electronic gear), and when we caught up with each other (in person or on the air) he always wanted to hear about whatever new project I was working on. I loved the attention, and we could go on for quite a while.

Dick was once supposed to attend a presentation I was giving (how’s that for a change?). When he wasn’t there, I was crushed; I was so looking forward to him grilling me mercilessly.

I was simply in awe of him and I am beyond proud that Dick considered me a friend. He is a part of what I am and I will never forget him.

Ed Gellender WB2EAV

Dick was a tremendous inspiration and a pioneer.

He showed to all: the value of 2-way radio: as a science of 1) radio electronics, 2) ham radio (as it is known), and 3) telecommunications.

He also had his own way of presenting. He always came through loud and clear for me.

To him, I will be forever thankful, for the his guidance.

May he and his family be blessed.

RIP.

Replies sent to limarc@optonline.net

Thank you for the news, although sad. No one will forget K2RIW.

Paul F. Beeman, W2PB
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Sad to hear again the passing away of another brother, Dick Knadle K2RIW. Please extend my deepest condolences to the family! May his soul rest in peace!

Edward KN6GXX
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I am so sorry to hear about the passing of Dick K2RIW. It’s a terrible loss for the ham community.

Ruby Ippolito, KB2UEI
*****************************************************************************I I was terribly saddened with this news. Dick was a wonderful asset to the ham community, and he will be sorely missed.
Please pass on my condolences to his family.
Harry KC2FYJ ******************************************************************************He will be missed.
Bob, W2OSR
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Im crushed. Terrible, terrible news.

Dick was brilliant and all of us were covered by the light of learning that he cast upon us.

He was irreplaceable.

Craig KC2CXK
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My deepest condolences

Christopher KD2QMT
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I am saddened by Dicks passing. I will say a prayer for him and his family. He helped me with questions that i had in the past. He was very selfless. The world just lost a good sole, but he is with God now and in a much better place.

Andy Bebry kd2esy
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The amateur radio community has taken a huge hit with this horrible loss. The legacy of Dick Knadle, K2RIW, ought to be commemorated and preserved. My thinking is this: let there be a K2RIW Technical Award, where outstanding members may be recognized for their technical aptitude and educational skills.

Tim Cregan, N2RDB

Dick was a good friend and one of the most entertaining people to talk to and listen to.

I first encountered him at the 2nd Eastern VHF/UHF conference in about 1974ish. Hi was giving a talk on RF safety at HF frequencies. I was privileged to have many years and decades of exposure to his brilliant wisdom.
He will be missed. RIP Dick.

More from the PackRats

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Very sad news indeed. Dick was a giant in our game. As others have mentioned, at least hundreds of his 432 design antennas are still in use. And a mention was made of his amplifier design. I?ll bet a lot of them are still on the air (or languishing in basements).
But, do you remember his claim to fame in the Apollo days? Dick set up an antenna system and received some of the astronaut downlink from the cabin crew to NASA. They didn?t believe it at first, until he gave them recordings!

He will be missed, by me, and all the others he touched

May he Rest In Peace.

Bert, K3IUV
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I provided Dick with 11 sections of new Rohn 55G tower sometime in the late 1980’s. Dick came to Tabernacle with a trailer to get them. I remember shaking his hand – he had a grip like a vise and a surprisingly strong arm. He called me a few weeks later to report that the tower was up at full height and topped off with a 432 yagi and a 10 GHz dish. He installed it all from the ground up without any assistance!! He devised a rigging method using a rock climbing ascender device along with a gin pole and his safety harness. Dick applied extreme determination to everything he did!

Dick loved to teach and and he took every opportunity to do so – via casual QSO’s, the famous Tech Net, conferences, QST articles, ARRL Handbook, telephone conversations, etc., etc. He had some wild ideas; he seemed more scientist than engineer! I am thankful for my experiences with K2RIW. RIP “Professor” Richard Knadle.

— WC2K

These are comments I found on the Packrats reflector,

Loss of a true giant of help and knowledge of all things radio. RIP. Rick K1DS

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His knowledge and style will be missed !
Always a pleasure asking a question and getting a technical ?riddle? to first ponder.
Condolences to the family.
Dick was also one of my 1st 432 contacts – from my folks house in Northeast Philly. I was using a double balanced mixer, IF amp only, and Hallicrafters equipment.
What followed was a session using his EME array with ?zoom? control to select 1, 4 or all yagis.
It was an ?Ah Ha? moment ! de: W1SMS Steve Simons

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Dick was a friend, a pioneer, and a true giant!! Remember HK1TL used 16 RIW-13’s in Colombia and the 432 power amp used an 8938 with a half wave stripline tank circuit “RIW style”. Not a contester per se but always on the air making “impossible” long distance skeds.. “13dB out of my noise” hah hah.. RIP Dick!
Oh yeah, and then there was the “skinny diamond” array.. Jeez, the list goes on and on… Bill Olson

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I’m still using a K2RIW 19 el 432 yagi.
RIP Dick
W3KM
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I think given time those of us that knew Dick will all come up with a K2RIW story. I remember when I’st got on 10GHz Dick was one of my 1st contacts on the band. I also used to enjoy listening to the tech net on one of the NYC area repeaters. In fact I listened to the Tech NET about a year ago.
Bill AA2UK

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I’m really sad to head that Dick Knadle is gone. He was, indeed, a
giant in our hobby. To me his trademark was a basic, no-nonsense
approach to any technical problem in the VHF+ world. I learned a lot
from things that Dick said and wrote.

— Joe, K1JT

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