John Dilks III K2TQN so loved the old rigs, the crystal sets, the spark transmitters and the keys that he assembled a collection of them -- ham radio artifacts from amateur radio's earliest days -- and called it the John Dilks Old Radio Museum. History was so much his passion and expertise that at one point he was asked to consult and provide radios for the 2013 film, "Paranoia," featuring Harrison Ford, when it was shooting outside of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

John, who was first licensed in 1956 as KN2TQN, became a Silent Key on the 12th of October.

Readers of QST magazine remember his monthly column, "Old Radio," which ran in the ARRL publication from 2000 to 2014. Members of the Antique Wireless Association recall him too as a respected member. According to his online obituary, his love of history extended beyond the evolution of amateur radio. He often gave presentations that touched on great moments in history, including radio's role in the 1923 expedition to the North Pole -- and its role as well aboard the ill-fated Titanic luxury liner. In his volunteer work with the World Peace Camp in 1989, he devoted time to helping children earn their amateur radio licenses.

John was 84.