John Sansom VE7BOZ became a Silent Key on March 28, 2017 peacefully at home in his 90th year.

John is well-known among the teaching fraternity, having been the vice-principal and then principal of Shuswap Junior Seconday, for a period of about 15 years, retiring in 1987.

In 1986 when there were a number of other hams in the school, Jim Casselman, Mike McMenamin, Steve Guidone, and Al Marr [before my start in ham radio], the school had its own call sign VE7SJS [Shuswap Junior Secondary].

Interestingly enough, the VE7RNH repeater, a tube radio of course, was rack-mounted in Room 16 which was a multi-purpose classroom/ workout room upstairs to one side of the gymnasium. At the time there was an autopatch on the repeater and John very kindly paid the phone charges for the autopatch for the entire 1986 year.

Although John’s interest was mainly in CW, keeping in contact with many buddies in his native England, he did help the Shuswap Amateur Radio club out with public service communications, namely Beat-the-Train Team Triathlon in 2001, Bike for Your Life Tour in 2002, the RAC Canada Day contest in June 2002, the Raven Run in 2002, and finally the Salmon Arm Classic Triathlon in 2006.

John’s son Brian VE7BMC, a noted local surveyor, also an Advanced ham with Code, has also helped the club a number of times with public service communications.

The club recognized the passing of John by holding a minute of silence on the VE7RNH net on Sunday, 2 April, 2017.

John was a gentleman in every sense of the word, a respected colleague, and a wonderful friend.

Ron VE7RLE
Certified in amateur radio since 1993
Teacher-Librarian at Shuswap Junior Secondary 1967-1998