Dňa 30. septembra 2026 zomrel vo veku 90 rokov po dlhotrvajúcej chorobe Rudolf Macko, OM3YAD from Dubnica nad Váhom. Amateur radio was his greatest lifelong hobby - it connected him throughout his life, and he remained faithful to it until the end. He had his roots in the tradition of amateur broadcasting in Dubnica nad Váhom, associated with the organization ZVÄZARM.
Rudolf bol dlhoročným členom rádioklubu OM3KOM Dubnica nad Váhom – together with Jozef OM4AJD, Ján OM3TGE, Martin OM4ADM, and Daniel OM4AQP formed the foundation of the club, which regularly competed in VHF pretekoch z portable QTH Homôlka (Valaská Belá, JN98DV, 850 m n. m.). Bol tiež členom Old Timers Clubu SARA, where in August 2026 – just a few weeks before his departure – they commemorated his 90th birthday. Recording of his contact on the 2-meter band a recording from July 10, 2016, with HA5JI has been preserved on the OTC SARA pages; it features the clear, calm operator's voice of a person for whom the ether was a natural environment.
The funeral will be on Friday, October 2, 2026, in Dubnica nad Váhom.
“He lived his whole life for amateur radio, and it was his greatest hobby. Those who knew him, please dedicate a quiet memory to him.”
— Miroslav, OM1ALF, son
Honor his memory!