NU9N SSB Audio News Editorial - August, 2007
In Memory of W2ONV, Sereno (Bill) Selerno

NU9N News - August 12, 2007

For those of you who do not yet know, W2ONV passed away on Sunday, August 12, 2007. Bill had been fighting a battle with scleroderma for the past year. Unfortunately, his form of the disease was somewhat aggressive and atypical. His disease morphed into several other immune related diseases in the last months of his life causing the disease to rapidly progress.

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-- OBITUARY --
"Sareno Salerno SALERNO Sareno (Bill), age 83, of Saddle Brook on August 12, 2007. Born in Garfield he lived in Saddle Brook for 48 years. He was a Communications Expert owning U.P.I Communications, Saddle Brook for over 25 years, a WWII Navy veteran. a parishioner of St. Philip the Apostle RC Church, Saddle Brook, and an Amateur Radio Operator for 75 years."

"Beloved husband of 56 years to Ann (nee Krause). Devoted father of Dr. William D. Salerno and wife Audrey of Wyckoff. Dear brother of Anthony Salerno, Rose Hammond, and Marie Matros. Loving grandfather of Erica and Alexis. Predeceased by his brother Frank and his sisters Phyllis Kimball, Angela Gambrill, Teresa Alaimo, and Frances Lupusnak."

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One thing that always impressed me about Bill, was his relentless pursuit of trying everything at his disposal for that elusive and unique SSB audio that he was looking for. I never knew Bill in his early days of amateur radio, but what I did know about him in the last 10 years of his life was his contagious style of operating rhetoric, his unique mannerisms and unfailing candor. His famous "One-Two, One-Two, Foaa, Foaa" audio tests were recognized world-wide.

It was Bill who initially sparked my interest in good sounding SSB audio. When I first heard that signature voice on the air, I just knew I had to pursue it. Bill always kept the conversations interesting, and he treated everyone with the same respect. He was an interesting person, because he was an interested person. He was always filled with the joy of life and was always willing to share it.

Bill made me laugh and was entertaining to just listen to for hours. When Bill would call CQ, he had the world by the tail, and a world who wanted to work him. Bill was a very generous person. He would have never shared this, but he gave me my fist HF linear amplifier. It just showed up one day in a UPS truck with a note attached that said: "Your wish has come true - Your friend, Bill".

Bill was often referred to as the "Grandfather of SSB Audio Experimentation". He certainly encouraged a lot of hams, including myself, and will be deeply missed!

For those of you who are interested, I have compiled a montage of on-air recordings of Bill behind his famous Neumann U-87 microphone, audio rack and Kenwood TS-950SDX.

Click to hear a short W2ONV On-Air Audio Montage

73,

-John, NU9N

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