Robert W. “GUN” Gunderson W2JIO - *1919–1987* Born to Charles and Freda Gunderson Madison New Jersey, a brother age 3 and a sister Helen age 13. The true “Sunshine Station.” Editor,author, teacher and design engineer of the Bronx, NY. Blind since birth, Gun was described as
cheerful, upbeat about life and particularly happy about ham radio. He was one very unusually gifted
individual that didn’t allow his condition hinder his life style. Gun W2JIO was known to have said
“There is no handicap so great as a closed mind.” Lillian Gunderson was in Bob’s life 1909-1976.
In Gun’s own words; “As a boy, I was
fascinated by the idea ofcommunicating and that fascination
still persists. The tin can thing with athin string conductor perhaps was myearliest telephone. Then came theearphones connected between houses
by a double wire or even a single
wire, with the ground serving as thereturn leg. Battery poweredtransmitter and receiver came laterand I can well remember the bicycle
frame connected to a Model -T Ford
generator by means of a rope. Iliterally pumped my heart out trying
to keep the battery charged.
Pictured below at his ham equipment
HF and VHF. Of course on the J38
key during a QSO. A member in goodstanding of the Bronx NY AmateurRadio Club.
Robert was revered by Hollywood andappeared on the NBC Corp. Show
“This Is Your Life” a Ralph Edwards
Production. There seems to be audio
available of the program through the UCLA archives. We are attempting to order the CD to review
for this story. It is still pending because of copyrights.
W2JIO didn’t pass his home problems to anyone else, he would tackle them himself! Joe W3GMS
said “ I remember the time when Gun put a new roof on his house in the dark and the neighbors
would kid him and ask him to wait for daylight hours so he could see!” Gun and his wife Linda K2LY
would travel by motor home and visit us and enjoy the country side, Joe said.
Philip Petersen W2DME wrote; “I have learned much more
about Bob. He went on to become one of our very
knowledgeable radio amateurs. He was guest speaker atmany radio clubs and hamfests. He was a technicalconsultant on radio communications, publisher of theBraille Technical Press and a highly valued leader at theNew York Institute for the Blind. He helped many others
overcome their handicaps and achieve their dreams.
Gunderson tribute continued on page two.

Among one of the things that amazed your author about Gun’s life was being a 3 day a week
consultant and advisor at Manhattan’s Radio Row at one of the better electronic establishments“Hudson Radio.”
He would roll up his sleeves work at the counter and answer technical questions from the faithful. In1969 Bob worked together producing with Radio Shack, a Morse Code course with manual and code
record LP album. The course was prepared for sale for beginners under the Archer brand.
AnEdison Award recipient in 1955 was one of his main accomplishments.

Frank Casey was impressed so much with Gun that he obtained “W2JIO” and said; “I now have a newcall sign W2JIO!” In September 1962, I became a student of the New York Institute For the Educationof the Blind (now known as NY Institute for Special Education.) in the Bronx. My electronics
instructor was a knowledgeable gent by the name of Robert Gunderson. Gun, as we called him, heldthe amateur radio call W2JIO. He was responsible for me and several other blind students obtaining
their amateur tickets. Unfortunately Gun became a silent key winter of 1987.
Since that time Casey said, I always wanted 2JIO. I applied making the big move and on Oct 11th
2003, the FCC granted my request for W2JIO. Casey gave appreciation to his wife Kathy and KM2O
for assisting in the filing. He continued; “Yes WB2HQU served me well for many rich years ofenjoyment but the time came in its appropriate place, W2JIO was in operation again for someone who
has an enormous amount of respect for “Gun,” the fine gentleman who blazed the trail for so many
blind amateur radio operators, regards - Frank Casey W2JIO – excerpts NT2Y dot org. Valuable
pictures and help by Bill NA2M, much appreciated plus ancestry work by Chuck Johnston.
W8SU 2010