F. Kevin Feeney

I am a nerd at heart and an engineer by trade. Since graduating from Clarkson College with a Bachelors in Electrical and Computer Engineering (BSECE) in 1977 I've spent 30 years as a video, wireless, and network engineer at Cornell University. I also spent 10 years as a programmer for GE and Precision Filters. I was a manufacturing engineer for NCR and moonlighted for 5 years working as a wireless contractor for local firms getting them started in wireless networking.

My job throughout my career has been working with people to identify and then solve problems both large and small, often learning new systems and technologies on the way and occasionally pioneering new uses for them. I've worked both solo and as part of large teams on international multi-million dollar projects.

Besides engineering I've also taught flying, motorcycling, and ham radio through the years and published articles on ham radio.

In the past I've served on the board of the East Hill Flying Club and am currently on the board of the Tompkins County Amateur Radio Association and also the repeater trustee in charge of running and maintaining the club's hilltop repeaters.

As a club member for over 30 years, I regularly participate in our communications support for the AIDS ride, the Skunk Cabbage Run, Cayuga Triathalon, and other public service events where we provide communications services. I've been deployed a few times to provide communications during weather emergencies.

Politically I don't feel very at home in any of the major parties these days. My political bent tends towards "take your hand off my wallet, go away and leave me alone." I'm a classic liberal, watching with bemusement as the political landscape shifts around me, moving me from one side to the other as I stay more or less in place.

I enjoy motorcycling and have ridden solo to Alaska, southern California, and back. I have a commercial pilot's license and used to haul skydivers on weekends (and jumped a few times myself) and taught ultralight flying. I enjoy flying locally in a 1946 Aeronca Champ. I've flown gliders 4 times, twice intentionally!

Ham radio has been a passion since junior high and has allowed me to talk to people around the world as well as astronauts on the Shuttle and ISS, a King, and folks in Antarctica, as well at the public service communications.

I've crewed on sailboats up and down the east coast and enjoy sailing and kayaking in the Adirondacks and on Cayuga Lake.

A few years back we inherited a real live tugboat and sailed it up from Long Island to Ithaca and ran it on the lake and up the canal for a number of years. One of the best parts was rescuing other boaters from time to time and towing them back in when needed. The kids thought being rescued by a little red tugboat was great!

My wife Annette and I live with our Gordon Setter in a log cabin here in Danby. I've lived in Danby since 1993.