Joseph Hampson, III, W1JFI

It is with great regret that we announce the passing of SEMARA member Joseph Hampson, III, W1JFI of Fairhaven, MA.  Joe passed away on the morning of Wednesday, September 28, 2011 in Chicopee, MA while visiting his friend Frank Krol, WA1CRV.  Joe was a longtime member of SEMARA, a retired employee of Richie’s Auto Radio in Dartmouth and previously held the call sign KA1JFI.  We send our sympathy to his family for their loss.  May he rest in peace.

W1JFI, SK

Update 09/30/2011: Joe’s friend Frank Krol, WA1CRV offered an explanation of what happened on Wednesday morning to SEMARA members as well as funereal arrangements:

Joe came over Monday afternoon and slept here. Joe came over every September to go to the BIG E with us. Tuesday morning he told us that he no longer climbs his roof because he gets chest pains. Tuesday he said that he went to the bathroom (which is on the second floor) in the middle of the night. He got out of breath and had sharp chest pains. I told him that I should take him to the emergency room, but he refused to go. He said that he had a doctor appointment in the beginning of October. I asked if he had a Cardiologist and he said that he didn’t. I told him he should make an appointment as soon as he got home. We both tried to convice him to go to the ER, but he refused to go. You know how stubborn he was.

Wednesday morning he woke up Charlene’s daughter asking for help and we immediately called 911. They arrived here pretty quickly and worked on him for quite a while. Then they told us to go to the hospital and give the info to the triage desk at the ER. A short time later they came out and said that he passed away.

This is the info that Joe’s cousin passed on to me tonight. Joe’s wake will be this Monday at the Wilson Funeral chapel on 479 County Street in New Bedford from 4 to 7pm. The funeral itself will be from the funeral home at 10am on Tuesday morning. Evidently he will go right from the funeral home to where ever he will be buried and not go to church. I find this strange, since Joe was very religious.

Frank, WA1CRV