Today I had the pleasure of going to the Kings Point Radio Club in Sun City Center, Florida. It was an emotional experience for me because it was arranged by a friend that I had not seen in maybe thirty years. Mike Iacovazzi, ham radio call letters, W1RDF. Mike was an early mentor of mine.

I grew up in Connecticut and when I was a languishing young “tweenager,” my Mom got tired of me hanging around the house and dropped me off at the local ham radio club, W1DHT, and drove off. I was drawn to it like a moth to light and became a member.

Mike, along with a few others was one of the older men that took me and several other young people under his wing and showed us the marvels of electronics and communications. Back in 1963 he gave me my very first transistor. Today, that is no big deal, but at that time transistors were like gold and handled like a nuclear device. They were delicate and susceptible to damage.

As the years passed and we all pursued our lives we eventually lost contact. I often thought of Mike and the others that played such a large role in my life and it’s trajectory. Recently one of us initiated an email and with the advent of my book, he invited me up for a club meeting and book signing. I took my Appalachian Trail photo show to his radio club and spent a good part of the day there.

Ham radio doesn’t play a large role in my book, but it has played a major role in my life and that came about because of guys like Mike.

All I can say is, “Thanks Mike,” you’re one of my heroes!

PS: received this today from a Kings Point member: “I’m not an avid reader but I must say your book has kept me glued to it.
I’m 2/3 done and started reading Monday evening the day I met you at
King’s Point Radio Club . I liked it so well I have told other friends
and Radio operators and ordered another one for my nephew who has been
hiking AT in sections” Bob, N1ZK.

Dennis “K1YPP” Blanchard