Funeral services for Marilyn Gardner, 73, founder and president of the Evanston Amateur Radio Community, will be held Tuesday at 11 a.m. at Bethlehem Lutheran Church, 1334 Wesley Ave.
Gardner, who was also choir director at the church, died last Tuesday. She was an active member of several ham radio groups in the area, including the North Shore Radio Club and the Metro Amateur Radio Club.
She was one of the original founders of the Evanston group, whose mission is to assist the City of Evanston with emergency communications in the event of a local disaster, and her call letters, W9LUO, are readily recognized by hams throughout the Chicago area.
She regularly volunteered as a participant with the group of hams who provided communications support for the annual Century Bike Ride of the Evanston Bicycle Club.
A native of Washington, D.C., Gardner graduated from Northwestern University with a master’s degree in geography and from Valparaiso University, where she received her bachelor’s degree in geography, theology, and English.
[block:dfp=mr2i]
Public Safety Activities
Marilyn also had a long commitment to the City of Evanston's public safety and emergency management activities.
She was a graduate of the Citizen's Police Academy and active their alumni association. She was also a trained member of the Evanston Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) and was a member of the Team's Call Box inspection detail from its beginning in 2009.
She also participated in many training sessions and call outs for assisting with the management of city events.
Marilyn, it was a pleasure to
Marilyn, it was a pleasure to have taken my tech exam with you and the other volunteers and then return to upgrade to the general last year. You made a very nervous experience, a much easier one. 🙂 73’s KC9ZRF