I just feel privileged and grateful that I was able to know Jay for so many years. People have friends, but Jay was special. He, in all the years I knew him never had an unkind word to say about anyone. And he was always there to help someone. I can still hear him saying, "hey, Ron" in that gravelly voice that was unique to him. He will be missed by all of his many friends but great memories of Jay will remain with us the rest of our lives. Rest In Peace, Jay.
Ron Luttringer, K6XC

Marilyn and Family, our deepest sympathies go to you in the passing of Jay. He was a dedicated ham radio operator giving his time and talents to the Mt. Diablo Amateur Radio Club for so many years. He was active in all the club activities and in the Volunteer Examiners system helping those wanting to obtain their licenses to be successful in this endeavor. I have known and respected your father for many years and his loss will be felt deeply by the club. We take consolation that he has been released from his suffering. Many thanks for letting us know of his passing. He as well as your family will be in our prayers.
Vicki Zumwalt, N6KLS and Tom Schiller, N6BT

I first met Jay in 1964 on the air when he was WV6PUA, when one of us answered the other guy's CQ. I was VE2AQV/W6 at the time. He was struggling at about 7 words per minute and I immediately slowed down for him. We worked many times and he got to build his speed up so he could earn his General. He used to visit with me at my workplace in Pleasant Hill often and we had a neat friendship. He always bragged about my CW expertise and how proud he was to work someone who wasn.t afraid to slow down for beginners. We build several Heathkits in the .60s, but he really blew my mind when he bought a 25 inch Heathkit color TV and built it himself, something I would never have tackled, and I was in the TV repair business at the time. That TV had its place in the family room and worked for years. He was a kind and friendly gentleman.
Art Mayoff, AA6AM

I am sorry to read this. I remember Jay attending the CARES meetings at Concord PD. He was a great guy and always friendly to me. May he rest in peace.
Ed Morales, KJ6KYT

Soooo sorry to hear... many years ago I lived a few houses away from Jay and one day he came by asking about my antenna and I was able to give him his Novice test and he became WV6PUA and we would meet every morning on the street as I walked to my ride to school and Jay was starting his drive to work..... great guy and a lot of memories.
Bruce Croskey, AH0U (ex-WA6JCD)

After becoming a ham in 1995, the most prominent ham radio activity in my household for several years was "Jay and the Net". That was the Thursday evening MDARC net which I thought Jay Caldis had invented and was sole proprietor. Even my wife, whose understanding of ham radio can be summarized with her name for us - The Hampsters - always perked up when she heard the "This is Jay and the Net" greeting coming across my radio. She was excited when she first met him at one of the Pacificons, and greeted him with "its great to finally meet you Jay and the Net". Jay was a great guy. His passing is very sad.
Pete Harris KE6ZIW

Jay was my instructor for Morse code long ago when I was working towards my license. He lived near my in-laws in Walnut Creek and every time I passed by I would think of him and his patience with me. RIP Jay.
Jim Larrowe, N6ZQB

Jay was a bright light in MDARC. His father, Panos, was an old school European professorial type and a department head in Cal Pack who hired me long ago. I first met Jay 8 or 9 years ago, in MDARC. Fun to talk old times.
Duncan Carter, KJ6APD

I first met Jay on August 6, 2006 when I attended my first Livermore Amateur Radio Klub (LARK) amateur radio "swapfest" in Robertson Park. He was very friendly and walked around hawking PACIFICON tickets (they were discounted if bought early), something I saw him do at every summer LARK swapfest I attended until they were discontinued in 2011. I would talk to (and watch) Jay on the MDARC analog amateur television repeater as well as on the "Fat City" SSB and CW net on 28.420 MHz at 7:30pm on Tuesday nights (his Morse code speed was much faster than mine). Jay also helped form the Quarter Century Wireless Association's Mount Diablo Chapter 228 and he attended its monthly brunches in Concord until his health declined. His welcoming spirit and ardent promotion of amateur radio is one of the reasons I joined MDARC in 2007.
Matthew G. Vurek, N4DLA