Some of you may know what I just learned yesterday, that Bill Brandenburg W0QNI, "The Heathkit Junkie" and longtime Net Manager for the Western Amateur Radio Friendship Association (WARFA) net on 3908 kHz among his many activities, passed away on December 6, 2010. The WARFA organization, of which he was so much a part, was born out of a desire to reach across racial barriers.
Bill was a seller at a couple of SBARC's past Hamfests.
There is a memorial for Bill on the WARFA website at http://www.warfa.org/HEALTHWELFARE.htm , and number of tributes to him are at http://www.eham.net/friends/displaystory/5298 .
Although my HF activity is currently limited to occasional monitoring, for me, to no longer hear his recognizable voice and friendly presence on the airwaves certainly leaves a void. But even so, when thoughts turn to him, one can only smile, and I'm sure many are glad to think he is in a better place now.
~K6VML