SB QST @ ARL $ARLB068 ARLB068 Former New England Director Robert Chapman, W1QV, SK ZCZC AG68 QST de W1AW ARRL Bulletin 68 ARLB068 From ARRL Headquarters Newington CT November 24, 2003 To all radio amateurs SB QST ARL ARLB068 ARLB068 Former New England Director Robert Chapman, W1QV, SK Former ARRL New England Director Robert York Chapman, W1QV, of Groton, Connecticut, died November 21. He was 96. Chapman served as New England Division Director from 1965 until 1975, when the ARRL Board of Directors elected him an ARRL Honorary Vice President. Chapman also was president emeritus of the ARRL Foundation, which he helped to found in 1973. ''He was the 'grand old man' of Amateur Radio in Southeastern Connecticut 40 years ago when I became a ham,'' recalled ARRL CEO David Sumner, K1ZZ. Sumner said that during his tenure on the ARRL Board, Chapman championed ARRL life membership (he was a Charter Life Member) and, at the board's May 1968 meeting, proposed the ARRL Five-Band DXCC Award as the epitome of Amateur Radio DX achievement. ARRL staff member Larry Wolfgang, WR1B, said the Amateur Radio community ''has lost a great friend with W1QV's passing.'' Chapman continued to be active in Amateur Radio until health problems forced him to move to a long-term care facility, Wolfgang said. An ARRL member since 1923 and a ham since 1924 (as 1QV), Chapman was the director of the Acoustical Research and Development Division at the US Navy Submarine Base in Groton, where he led the program to develop silencing mechanisms for ships. He also was the Navy's chief technical consultant to submarine and destroyer training activities in the field of acoustics. Chapman was a member and past president of the Tri-City Radio Club, a member of the A1 Operator Club, the Quarter Century Wireless Association, the Old Old Timers Club and IEEE. The family invites memorial donations to the Poquonnock Bridge Baptist Church, South Road, Groton, CT 06340. NNNN /EX