National Capital Chapter 70 - Ottawa, Canada
VE1CAF Biography 
Donald Arthur (Don) Wilcox - SK - QCWA# 34060 (Silent Key)
Background
Don was born in Wales. His family emigrated to Canada in 1931. Returning to Canada after a vacation trip home, Don at age 14 and his mother survived the sinking of the liner Athenia on the first day of World War II.
Education / Employment History
- Albert College – Belleville ON
- University of New Brunswick – Fredericton, NB
- Queen’s University – Belfast, Northern Ireland.
- Don was commissioned as a Lieutenant in the Royal Canadian Corps of Signals.
- He worked for Technical Material Company in Ottawa and then Canadian Marconi Company Special Services Division installing communications equipment on the Pinetree Line and the DEW Line.
- Later Don became Western Canada Sales Manager for the Scientific and Industrial Equipment Division of Philips Electronics Ltd.
- 1980 – Retired.
Amateur Radio History
- 1952 – First licensed as a radio amateur. Later, he obtained the callsign VE1CAF and VE0MW Maritime Mobile.
Additional Information
Life Member of American Radio Relay League and Radio Amateurs of Canada.
Joined QCWA and Chapter 70 and attended two Tuesday breakfasts while visiting Ottawa. He was presented with QCWA "40 Years Licensed" lapel pin at the Chapter 70 May 2007 dinner meeting.
Don was a Life Member of the Canadian Naval Memorial Trust that owns and operates HMCS Sackville, Canada’s Naval Memorial.
He was also an ardent sailor and past Rear Commodore of Armdale Yacht Club.
He was a member of Canadian Power and Sail Squadron since 1967, and taught Celestial Navigation classes.
Don became a Silent Key on October 8, 2013. His ashes were committed to the sea on Battle of the Atlantic Sunday, May 4, 2013.