Obituary of Ralph Hasslinger

Ralph Hasslinger, 101 of Glen Rock died Wednesday, March 26, 2008 at The Valley Hospital, Ridgewood. He was born in New York City in 1906, and had been a resident of Bergen County since 1909. He attended school in Ridgefield Park and also resided in Wyckoff and West Englewood before moving to Glen Rook in 1968. He was a former member of the First Presbyterian Church of Ridgefield Park. He was employed for 32 years by General Offset Co. Inc. in New York City, and at the time of his retirement, in 1970, was the Secretary-Treasurer and a Director of that corporation. During the cold war, in the early 1950's, he was instrumental in organizing the Bergen County Civil Defense Radio Network and was County Radio Officer and Communications Coordinator, at that time. He owned and operated Amateur Radio Station W2CVF, first licensed by the Federal Government in 1922. He was a founding charter member of the Quarter Century Wireless Association, Inc., and was presented with its 50 Year Anniversary Award by Senator Barry Goldwater, who was Association President, at that time, in Washington DC in 1972. He received the 60 year award in 1982, the 75 year award in 1997, the 80 year award in 2002, and the 85 year award 2007. He was awarded certificate number one as a member of the QCWA Century Club in 1978. The Association, which was organized in New York City, in 1947, with 34 organizing charter members, had become international, with over 30,000 members. At the time of his death he was the last surviving charter member. In 1974 he organized the Northern New Jersey chapter of the Association, and was awarded the Chapter Charter, at the annual national meeting in Orlando, Florida, in October 1974. He served as the first President of the Chapter. In 1980 he organized the "Ozone Club", a group of Amateurs who had operated "spark" stations in the early 1920's. Prior to his death the Organization had grown to over 280 members, ages 75 to 90 plus, throughout the United States. He also was a member of the American Radio Relay League and held their Public Service Award for handling emergency disaster communications; A-l Operator Club, Official Phone Station, the "Old Old Timers Club", the "10-70 Repeater Association" and the "Society of Wireless Pioneers" etc. A short wave radio enthusiast since boyhood days, he had contacted hundreds of amateur radio stations, all over the world, and was visited by some of his foreign radio friends. Surviving are; son Glenn and his wife Louise, of Monroe, WA, three grand children Melanie Vanni of Newton, NJ, Glenn Hasslinger, Jr. of Bellevue, WA, Dawn Clarke of Las Vegas, NV and seven great-grandchildren Katherine, Brooke, Lauren, Garrett, Stephen, Chase and Cole. He was predeceased by his wife Rita in 2001, a daughter, Carol and three brothers, Henry, George and Clifford. Visiting, Sunday 2-4 and 7-9 p.m. at the VanderPlaat Funeral Home, 257 Godwin Ave., Wyckoff, NJ. Funeral Service Monday 10:30 a.m. at the funeral home followed by the burial at Hackensack Cemetery, Hackensack, NJ. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations to the Community Church of Glen Rock, 354 Rock Rd. Glen Rock, NJ 07452 would be appreciated. www.vpfh.com