Ron Wetjen

1960 - 2016

Wetjen, Ron
May 27, 1960 - May 9, 2016
Ron Wetjen, a resident of Sarasota, Florida, passed away May 9th, 2016 at the age of 55 after a courageous battle with cancer. Ron is lovingly remembered by his mother Brigitte Wetjen, of Sarasota, FL, sister Sue Wetjen Slaubaugh of Sarasota, brother Jeff Wetjen of Birmingham, AL, nephews Trey and Kyle Wetjen of Fayetteville, TN, and niece Abby Slaubaugh of Sarasota. Ron was born in Lachine, Quebec in 1960. Ron and his family moved to Long Island NY in 1963, and later to Sarasota in 1974. Ron was a 1978 graduate of Sarasota's Riverview High School.
Ron was employed by Business Credentialing Services of Morristown, NJ, and worked as a risk management auditor. Ron was licensed by the FCC as an amateur radio operator in 1976, and received the call sign he would use throughout his 40 years as a ham operator, WD4AHZ. Ron was a highly skilled Morse code operator, and frequently put these skills to the test in international ham radio contesting events. He routinely won awards in these international competitions. In addition to these weekend competitions, Ron enjoyed chatting with his many friends around the world "over the air" to hone his Morse code skills. Outside of his beloved ham radio, Ron volunteered countless hours assisting Sarasota County Emergency Management in the development of backup radio communications systems. In recognition of this work, the Emergency Operations Center's Comm Room was recently named the "Wetjen Radio Room" to honor Ron. On the social side, Ron enjoyed bowling in local leagues, and attending Riverview High School mini reunions and reconnecting with his friends. Ron was a very avid Tampa Bay Lightning fan.
A memorial Service is planned for Ron for Saturday, May 14th at the Toale Brothers Funeral Home, 40 North Orange Avenue, Sarasota, FL. Friends will gather for a visit at 10 AM, and a service will be held at 11 AM. The Wetjen family requests that donations be made in lieu of flowers to a Wetjen Memorial Fund that has been established in memory of Ron. The Memorial Fund recognizes Ron's lifelong interest in amateur radio contesting, and his outstanding contributions to the hobby. Information about making a donation to the Ron Wetjen Memorial Fund can be found at http://floridacontestgroup.org/WD4AHZ-Memorial/