John Pate

John Graham Pate, 61, passed away Feb. 18, 2006, at his home in Whitefish after a long illness.

Born in 1945, John was raised in a Navy family and spent most of his youth in the Monterey, Calif., area.

He was an avid amateur radio enthusiast and later joined the Air Force where he studied electronics. He served for a number of years in England at RAF Suffolk. On returning to the Monterey area after his service, John worked at the Jamesburg Satellite Earth Station, worked on electronics projects at companies in the local area, and was also an electronics teacher at Monterey Peninsula College.

John's dedication to his craft was inspiring and he truly lived for his work. John will be remembered amongst his friends and throughout his industry as the innovative force that put the small company Radionics at the top of its market for more than 20 years.

John found the true meaning of love and companionship later in his life. John and Helga were married in 1996 and moved to their home in Corral de Tierra to raise Nickolas and Stephanie. In 2002, John and Helga retired to the home they built together in Whitefish.

John is survived by his wife Helga and stepchildren Nickolas and Stephanie Perry, of Monterey.

A celebration of John's life will be held March 18 at the Unitarian Universalist Church of the Monterey Peninsula, in Carmel. For more information, visit online at www.channelsmarts.com/johnpate.