Tribute to Fredrick L. Capossela

Tribute to Fredrick L. Capossela W2IWC / K6SSS
1937 - December 27, 2021

It is my sad duty to inform you that Frederick L. Capossela, K6SSS unexpectedly became a silent key on December 27, 2021 at the age of 84 years with his wife Ava, daughter Kate and son Thomas by his side. He was born in Manhattan on September 15, 1937, son of Frances Lawlor and Fred Capossela and raised on Long Island and Miami due to his father Fred "Cappy" Capossela's career as a well-known thoroughbred racing announcer. His mother was a newspaper reporter in the 1930's.
I first met Fred, then W2IWC when I was W2HQL on the 80 meter Novice band and later many times in person starting in 1952. I often rode my bike to his home in Baldwin, Long Island. In June of 1957 Fred joined me on a trip to put Navassa Island on the ham bands. We later wrote it up in December 1957 QST magazine. We worked the CQ DX Contests in 1958 at the home of Buzz Reeves, K2GL in Tuxedo Park, NY and set new world records. Fred led many contests at K2GL/N2AA in subsequent years. In 1962 Fred was my "Best Man" at my wedding to Virginia.
Fred was a member of the NY Order of Boiled Owls in the late 1950's. He was an A1 operator and achieved an incredible DXCC total of 330 on 80 meters and 180 on 160 meters as K6SSS all on a small lot in Southern California. This may be a record for working all of these entities from California. For the past 40 years he has maintained and annually updated the CQWW All-Time Records List. Fred was inducted into the CQ Contest Hall of Fame in May 2007.
Fred was a graduate of Fordham University. He later obtained an MBA from Cal Poly Pomona and a PHD in marketing and advertising from Claremont Graduate University. He was a professor of marketing and advertising in the College of Business at Cal Poly University for 30 years where he taught until his retirement in 2007.
He will be sorely missed by his family, friends and the ham community. May he rest in peace. Joe Reisert W1JR

Fred and I were "goomba's" from NYC back in the day. It was an honor to be inducted into the HOF with Fred. He brought enormous enthusiasm to contesting. Tom Taormina, K5RC

Fred, K6SSS, was a very dear friend. We kept in touch over the years, including our working together on the CQ World-Wide Records published in CQ magazine. Ironically, we only met once in person while attending the Dayton Hamvention Contest Dinner at the Crowne Plaza, where Fred received his Contest Hall of Fame award. He was so kind and caring.
I will miss him so much; may he Rest In Peace. Gail Sheehan, K2RED

This postcard was the 1st issue of Don Chesser's W4KVX DX Bulletin on June 3, 1957 reporting that Fred W2IWC (K6SSS) and Joe W2HQL (now W1JR) were planning to operate from Navassa Island.