Harry J. Dannals

Harry J. Dannals, 95, originally of New York, passed away on Tuesday, August 30, 2022, in Charlottesville, Virginia. He was preceded in death by his beloved wife, Catherine "Kay" A. Dannals, of Charlottesville, Virginia.

He is survived by his younger brother, Frank Dannals and his wife, Linda, of Sumter, South Carolina; his four children, Dr. Robert Dannals and wife, Donna, of Sparks, Maryland, Patricia Dannals Jennings and husband, Douglas, of Kansas City, Missouri, Dr. Thomas Dannals and wife, Elizabeth, of Winston-Salem, North Carolina, and Mary Dannals Johnson and husband, Peter Johnson, of Smithtown, New York; as well as by 13 grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.

As a child, Harry moved frequently following his father's assignments in the United States Navy. He graduated from Balboa High School in the Canal Zone, now Panama, where he remained as a Navy radioman when his family was reassigned. At age eighteen, he became the youngest Watch Supervisor at Radio Balboa, a Naval relay radio station involved in signals intelligence during World War II. Harry would eventually retire from the Naval Reserve in 1987, with rank of Commander. After his discharge from the Navy in 1946, Harry enrolled at the Polytechnic Institute of Brooklyn, where he graduated with a degree in electrical engineering. While in college, his fascination with radio communication led him to becoming a respected, licensed amateur radio operator (ham) with the callsign W2TUK, and later, W2HD, by which he was known worldwide. Upon his graduation in 1950, Harry became an engineer at Sperry Corporation in Lake Success, N.Y., where he worked for almost 40 years. While at Sperry, he met his future wife, Kay Comtess, and they were married for over 60 years. Harry and Kay moved from New York to Sperry's operations in Charlottesville, Va., in the early 1990s, where he remained once retired.

Harry was deeply involved in ham radio, passing his enthusiasm to his sons and scores of others. He held many positions with the national association for amateur radio, the American Radio Relay League (ARRL), culminating in his being ARRL's longest serving president (1972-1982). Representing the organization, he visited all fifty states, with additional trips to England, Puerto Rico, the Bahamas, Bermuda, Chile, Peru, Mexico, and Canada. Along with the staff at the ARRL, Harry was devoted to defending, expanding, and maintaining the ham radio frequency spectrum.

In 1989, Harry was elected president of the Quarter Century Wireless Association (QCWA), becoming the only person to have been president of both the ARRL and QCWA. At the time of his passing, he maintained emeritus status in both organizations.

He was an active member of the Albemarle Amateur Radio Club, initiating and participating in many of the club's community activities. Along with his wife, Kay, Harry was an avid supporter of all University of Virginia sports, particularly the women's basketball team.

A gentle man and a gentleman, Harry embodied commitment to a simple life of service to country and community and through radio, to spread the message of peace and unity throughout the world.

Harry's family wishes to express their gratitude to Bob Pattison, David Schmitt, Lettie Bien, and the staff at Our Lady of Peace.

Services will be held on Saturday, September 24, 2022, at the Church of the Incarnation, 1465 Incarnation Drive in Charlottesville, beginning at 10 a.m. (Visitation), and 11 a.m. (Mass). Gravesite interment will follow at Holly Memorial Gardens, 3251 Seminole Trail, Charlottesville.

In lieu of flowers, contributions in Harry's name can be made to ARRL (www.arrl.org/donate-to-arrl ), QCWA (https://www.qcwa.org/qcwa.php) or the Charlottesville Regional SPCA (www.caspca.org ).