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Once in a great while you will meet a person who you know has got to
be one of the nicest people on Earth. A person who is always pleasant
and positive; who never talks ill of anyone else. Ann Fielder, N1ZDJ, fit
that description. The Narraguagus Bay ARC recently learned that Ann
had become a Silent Key in April of this year.

Many of you knew Ann, who used to live in Corea and then Bunkers
Harbor, Maine. She was a member of our club for about 4 years. I first
met Ann at a meeting of the DownEast Amateur Radio (DEAR) club in
Trenton 5 or 6 years ago. She was often accompanied by Yankey Bob,
N1TDH. They were best friends. I always looked forward to seeing Ann
and Yankey Bob at our club meetings and events, because I knew there
would always be something interesting or new to learn from them.

Yankey Bob related to us how proud Ann had been when she upgraded
to Extra Class before she moved back out to California to be with her
ailing parents. Ann studied hard under Bob's coaching. She didn't just
study the question pool and answers. She learned the theory.

When my wife, Brenda, N1ZPV, learned she had cancer, Ann was right
there for her and gave her a whole lot of support and comfort. It was a
subject Ann knew well. For she also was battling with cancer. For
personal reasons, Ann chose to forego the conventional medical
treatments for cancer but instead dove head first and full steam into an
alternative cancer treatment program. While she was here in Maine, it
seemed to be working. Her tumors were shrinking and she was feeling
better. Unfortunately, after she moved to California, the battle turned for
the worse.

Don Frost, K1WJY, recently reminded me that Ann used to help provide
the sick and elderly through the "Meals on Wheels" Program in the Bar
Harbor area. That is just like Ann. Always ready to help others in need.

Ann's key is silent now, but her good deeds, kind words, and pleasant
demeanor are still felt. This beautiful lady will be sorely missed among
the ham community in Downeast, Maine.

Phil Duggan, N1EP