| Graduation Year | Class of 1970 |
| Date of Birth | Dec 14, 1951 |
| Date of Passing | May 25, 2023 |
| About | Charles Margelli Obituary Charles Margelli May 25, 2023 Garden Grove, California - Charles "Chip" Margelli passed away May 25 at his home in Garden Grove, California, after a brief illness. He was 71. Growing up in Tacoma, he attended Stadium High School and was a member of the famed Madrigal Singers under the direction of his father Paul, long-time choir director at Stadium. He attended the University of Washington and was a member of the University Oratorio and, after graduating with a Bachelor of Arts degree majoring in political science, he attended the School of Business, receiving a Master of Business degree - all the while fitting in time for skiing, both snow and water. His MBA academic background joined with the activity that became the major focus of his personal and professional life - amateur "ham" radio, where he had the opportunity to work for several major radio-related companies during his professional career in the United States and Japan (living in Tokyo for three years where his knowledge of Japanese, learned in part from his radio conversations with fellow hams across the Pacific, was invaluable). A licensed amateur radio operator for six decades, Chip was for several years a member of the Radio Club of Tacoma during his early ham career. He was extraordinarily active in the hobby and became one of the best-known members of the international ham community, setting national and world records in many operating contests associated with amateur radio including a silver medal in the 1990 World Radiosport Team Championship, held in conjunction with the Goodwill Games in Seattle. His national and global reputation for operating skill and technical expertise gave him the opportunity to participate in a number of groundbreaking projects helping to establish and grow amateur radio programs around the world including in China, Cuba, and Albania. Such were his accomplishments that he was a 2008 inductee into the CQ Magazine Amateur Radio Hall of Fame. A prolific writer, his articles on amateur radio have appeared in a number of magazines and journals, and he has been a contributor to several books, particularly in the area of antenna design. To the "non-ham" world he may best be remembered for an appearance in 2005 with fellow ham Ken Miller on "The Tonight Show" with Jay Leno. The radio duo, sending "old fashioned" Morse Code, beat the reigning text-messaging champions in a speed competition. Only one match-up was broadcast but the Morse Code team won all three contests that day. The YouTube video has been posted and re-posted for many years by hams around the globe. Many, though, just knew him in the way expressed by a fellow ham. "He never had anything bad to say about anyone. He was a fixture at all [of] the big events and was just a great guy to be around." Chip was predeceased by his father Paul, of Tacoma. He is survived by his wife of 45 years, Janet (Patjens) of Garden Grove, California; his mother Bette and brother Tad, of Tacoma; his brother David and sister-in-law Christy, of Bainbridge Island; and his beloved cat MC, of the rocker in the living room. No public observance is planned. |
