From the ARRL Letter: * YX0A operator reported SK, DXpedition adopts memorial call sign: YX0A Aves
Island DXpedition team member Jose "Joe" Manuel Valdes Rodriguez, YV5LIX,reportedly died on the tiny Caribbean island April 21. He was 57. A radio
amateur since 1987, Valdes was well known around the world as a DXer and
contester on HF and VHF. Esteban Romagni, W4DTA/YV5DTA, reports in an e-mail
shared with ARRL that his longtime friend suffered a heart attack, and the
two physicians with the DXpedition team were unable to resuscitate him.
Valdes' death, at around 0400 UTC, occurred shortly after the YX0A
DXpedition got under way. The Aves Island DXpedition reportedly has obtained
permission to use the memorial call sign YX0LIX until the DXpedition ends on
or about May 1. Members of the Association of Radioamateurs of Venezuela and
the Grupo DX Caracas are sponsoring the Aves Island (Isla de Aves)
DXpedition. Valdes was the DXpedition's digital modes coordinator and
reportedly was planning to concentrate on digital modes during the last few
days of operation.
