In Memory of Lynn Deffenbaugh - KJ4ERJ - Silent Key

December 9, 2024

One week after Lynn’s passing (to the day) - I am still in immense pain. It never occurred to me how close I grew to him over the few short years I had to work with him. The saying: You don’t know what you’ve got until it’s gone” couldn’t ring more true.

I am not an expert in writing obituaries - but I still want to share details of our friendship and time working together.

I feel awful that it’s taken me this long to write this, but it’s taken this long for me to sit down and think, say, or write anything without bursting out in tears. I’m fighting it back now - but I’m doing better than I was a few days ago. I’m not afraid to admit I cried over losing Lynn - a LOT.

Lynn was, by far, one of the kindest, gentlest, most patient, and understanding people I’ve known over the years.

I’ll start with a short story that still makes me laugh, and laughter is one of the best ways of healing.. I got my ticket in 2015 and upgraded to General Class in 2016. I only heard of APRS, but my head was spinning with the seemingly limitless directions I could go with ham radio.

APRS was on my list - no question about it! I purchased a Kenwood TH-D72A. Shortly after, Kenwood released the D74A, and I was still within the return window, so I exchanged the D72 and got the D74. I bounced packets of the digipeater on the ISS with a tape measure yagi antenna. I was HOOKED!

Then I learned of the APRS-IS, but needed some passcode - I didn’t understand. I emailed a group to request a passcode, but I am notoriously impatient, so I asked "the Oracle" (aka Google) how to get a passcode. I found a website with a passcode generator and used it.

What harm could be done in doing that? I was saving the guys on the other end of the alias time, right???!!!

I wrote them to let them know I already got a passcode online and was good to go. I received a SCATHING email in response. I guess it wasn’t that bad - but it wasn’t good either.

Whatever - I was over it. Then, in 2018, I was reading a copy of QST Magazine and learned of an event called the Appalachian Trail Golden Packet. It was only two days until the event - what timing!

I met Lynn through the Appalachian Trail Golden Packet.

It wasn't until a year or so later that I realized Lynn was the guy who chewed me out in the email! I figured it out once I heard him give the lecture to a couple of other people. And now I understand why getting a passcode through unofficial channels is a bad thing.

I got so involved with the Appalachian Trail Golden Packet that Bob Bruninga handed the entire event to me. 

Many of you likely know Lynn was the “Shack Potato!” He was instrumental in ensuring the event proceeded with as few issues as possible. He and I worked closely together over the next several years.

I learned APRS from one of the most knowledgeable (and patient) people on the planet. He was a remarkable teacher! He never questioned my abilities (or inabilities). He always knew how to present complex topics to me in ways I could understand, and he was an incredible and irreplaceable partner when running the annual event.

I earned tremendous respect from him over the years, so much so that he, John Tarbox, John Langner, and Jason Rausch joined hands with me to form the APRS Foundation. Lynn immediately stepped up to the plate as our Treasurer and jumped in with both feet on anything you asked him to do.

His reputation preceded him - being the author of APRSISCE/32 meant instant credibility, and I knew that, between him, John Langner (author of Direwolf), and Jason Rausch (wizard hardware developer extraordinaire), I was confident I put together the dream team!

The Foundation holds our executive team meetings on the first Monday of the month. That made last Monday, December 2, 2024, the last meeting of 2024. We already knew Jason had another obligation, as did John Barr (a recent addition to the team - who I will announce in short order).

But, it was very unusual for Lynn not to be there. Not to mention, he always let us know when he wouldn’t be able to make it.

John Tarbox picked up the phone and called Lynn’s cell phone. Lynn’s wife answered and shared the news. Shock is the only word that comes to mind. It took a good couple of hours for it to sink in.

At 49 (going on 50 years old), I’m reaching the point where we start noticing more and more of us leaving this world. It’s not getting any easier - if anything, it’s getting harder. I hope it gets easier because I’m terrified of the future.

Many of you also knew Lynn - some probably even better than I did. To say he will be missed is an understatement. He was a coworker, a mentor, and, most notably, a wonderful friend I will never forget!

Rest In Peace, Lynn. I miss you!