In Memory of Diego, F4HAU

Since I heard the news of your passing, I have been sad and devastated. I am at a loss for words.

Our Diego, my KOPain Diego…

I don't even remember when we first met. And yet, in the end, I feel as though I had always known you. You were always there, always present and always ready to help, whether you were at your station, on a French island, or on the other side of the world.

With you, I experienced some extraordinary moments. At F6KOP, at conventions, at Flo's wedding, and more recently in Saint-Pierre and Miquelon… Incredible moments, laughter, stories, and memories that I will treasure forever.

And yet, we still had so much to talk about, so many projects to complete, and so many adventures to share… We already miss you, Diego.

We will remember your kindness, generosity, enthusiasm, and that incredible humility that was so characteristic of you. A truly caring person, always with a smile.

An excellent operator, of course, but above all, a wonderful team member—versatile, able to find his place anywhere, and always thinking about the group. In a team, everyone appreciated you. You never had a harsh word for anyone. You were always there to help, put up an antenna, solve a problem, lend a hand… In short, you embodied the KOPain spirit all by yourself.

You were also a passionate IOTA enthusiast, an incredible adventurer, always ready for a new destination, a new island, a new adventure.

And then there was Diego around a table… A joke, a story, a smile, a good laugh. A true zest for life.

You were simply a good man.

I keep thinking about all the moments we shared, and I still can't believe that we will never meet again around a radio station, around a table, or at a convention.

I think about everything we still had to do, all those projects we talked about, and all those new adventures we imagined.

And today, everything has come to a sudden stop…

Damn it, Diego… I don't understand why life can sometimes be so complicated.

You will leave an enormous void—not only in our teams, our expeditions, and at KOP, but above all in the hearts of everyone who had the privilege of knowing you.

My thoughts are with your wife, your children, your family, and all your loved ones.

No words can truly ease their pain today. I simply want to offer them all my affection, support, and most sincere thoughts as they face this terrible ordeal.

I wish them tremendous courage as they get through these incredibly difficult days.

I would also like to send a message to everyone who knew and loved you.

I sincerely hope that your friends will have the decency not to use your callsign for a special event or memorial activation in your memory.

I know some may think that doing so would be a way of honoring you. But to me, Diego doesn't need a special callsign, a pileup, or thousands of QSOs for us to remember him.

F4HAU is already in our logs. It is in our memories, in our expeditions, in our adventures, in our laughter… and, above all, in our hearts.

Let your callsign remain where it belongs—in Diego's story, the story that he wrote himself.

Because some people leave memories in a log… and others leave a place in our hearts.

Diego, you are one of those people!

My KOPain Diego, we already miss you. Thank you for all those moments, thank you for your friendship, and thank you for simply being… Diego.

Rest in peace, my Diego. You will remain forever in our memories, and above all, in our hearts.

Frank – F4AJQ

Source: https://f6kop.com/index.php/2026/08/24/a-toi-mon-kopain-diego/