Monte, of Reston, VA passed away on December 21, 2021 at the age of 83. Monte was born in Del Norte, CO June 17, 1938. A family shift due to WWII brought him to Northern Virginia during childhood, and he lived most of his life there with brief stay in San Diego, CA and longer in Bowie, MD where he made life-long friends. He passed away in his Reston, VA home after surprise short battle with pancreatic cancer.
Monte’s undergraduate studies were in Electrical Engineering, and a few years later he earned Juris Doctor degree from University of Maryland in 1967. He had a career as an intellectual property lawyer for almost six decades, most of it as his own business that later welcomed and involved family members.
He enjoyed travel, both domestic and international, especially after his kids were grown, although the kids saw some of the country from tents and campers and bike trips in their youth. Photography was a lifelong hobby with accumulation of equipment and related software and, certainly, with the final product adorning walls of house and office. Monte and his wife, Carolyn, were founding members of the Potomac Peddlers, a fun-loving cycling club back in early 1970s, started in a small bike shop in Georgetown area of DC. Later, he made friends at other bike shops closer to his Reston home. Additionally, he developed an interest in woodworking, and made several pieces of furniture for his home and family. Monte developed an interest in golf and made many friends through that activity. And, he liked chatting with neighbors.
Monte was a disciplined hard worker, holding full-time jobs while in college and law school. He also learned to fix things for himself and assist friends & family with his knowledge of a task or sharing of varied accumulated tools. He felt that continuous learning of a variety of subjects was important for his mind. He encouraged these traits in his children and grandchildren and found ways to guide or share in their pursuits.
Each member of Monte’s family has many cherished memories. He shaped us all and we a grateful for his love of each of us.
Be at peace.
He attended our ARRL-sponsored license examination session on 10 February 2013. Our examination session notes record that he went from having no license to achieving Amateur Extra in one sitting.
Somehow, he was issued his vanity call sign KV4KS immediately upon being registered with the FCC. There is no record of his having been assigned a sequential call sign.
Monte joined the Sterling Park Amateur Radio Club (SPARC) in 2013. He is listed as a member on the membership list of that year.
Beginning in 2013, Monte was an enthusiastic supported of club activities including...
* Field Day,
* Technician License Classes and Examination sessions,
* Sterling Festival,
* Herndon Festival and
* the Annual Pizza Party
He became a amateur radio license volunteer examiner (VE) and helped run the examination sessions hosted by SPARC. We believe this is the activity he enjoyed the most.
Monte attending the technician license preparatory class on 9 February 2013 at the Sheriff substation in Sterling. This is SPARC's first picture of Monte. He participated in the examination session the next day and passed all three examinations (Technician, General, and Amateur Extra). After paperwork processing, he was granted a license on 21 February 2013.
June 2013. Monte operating the radio at the SPARC booth during the 2013 Herndon Festival
June 2013. Monte talking to Commodore Herndon (i.e., Gary, K4SRX-SK) during Herndon Festival.
22 June 2013. Monte at Field Day.
June 2014. Monte at the SPARC booth during Herndon Festival.
6 August 2014. Monte arriving at Joe's Pizza for the annual SPARC Pizza Party.
14 September 2014. Monte serving as a volunteer at the Sheriff substation in Sterling during a SPARC technician class and examination session. Duane, K4UW, on the left, and Charlie, K3SR, in the middle.
14 June 2015. Monte at the Manassas Ham Fest supporting the Awards Ceremony for the Virginia QSO party.
13 September 2015. Monte teaching a class on electrical components during a technician license class.
3 August 2016. Monte arriving at the SPARC Annual Pizza Party at Joe's Pizza in Sterling.
11 September 2016: Monte, KV4KS, testing a class on electrical components during a SPARC Technician Preparatory Class.
5 June 2016. Monte, on left, with the SPARC members supporting the Herndon Festival 5K/10K races with radio communications.
29 June 2017. Monte trying out his air cannon to help suspend wire antennas from the baseball field light poles.
7 October 2017. Monte at SterlingFest. Duane, K4UW, is on the right, Paul, K4PDF, in baseball cap, and Gordon, NQ4K, on right.
June 2018: Pre-Field Day radio check. Monte is second from left.
June 2018: Monte arriving at Field Day at Park View High School
June 2018. Monte chatting with Jim, AF4MO; Kevin, W4KLS; and Nick, KM4WWQ; in the QRM tent.
1 August 2018. Monte at the SPARC Annual Pizza Party held at Joe's Pizza in Sterling Park.
3 March 2019. Kevin, W4KLS; Gordon, NQ4K; and Monte, KV4KS, waiting for the examination to start at a SPARC Technician class and examination session. Monte was a volunteer examiner.
23 June 2019. Monte arrives at the SPARC Field Day site at park view High School.
7 August 2019. Monte at the SPARC Annual Pizza Party at Joe's Pizza in Sterling.
7 August 2019. Monte's son, Michael, KN4JMD, accompanied Monte at the Pizza Party.
1 January 2019. Monte in the last SPARC club photo taken before the COVID pandemic.