John C Amaral 

Navy Marine Corps MARS

28 Nov 1917 - 10 Apr 2003

W1VRP

N0UXX

NIANTIC, Conn. -- John C. Amaral, 85, of Cypress Way, died Thursday, April 10, 2003, after a battle with cancer at Lawrence and Memorial Hospital with his family beside him. He was the husband of Lea Amaral.

The son of the late Manuel and Mary (Correia) Amaral, Mr. Amaral was born in Flamengos, Faial, Azores. In 1919, he immigrated to the United States and grew up in New Bedford, Mass.

Mr. Amaral had been employed for many years as an electronics engineer at the former Navy Underwater Sound Laboratory, and later, the Naval Underwater Systems Center. Following his retirement from NUSC, he worked for Analysis & Technology in New London for about 10 years.

He was well-known throughout the Navy for significant career-long contributions to the capability of U.S. submarine radio communications. He had a major role in the invention, development and deployment of the Buoyant Cable Antenna. Other important radio techniques, for which he was widely known, are still employed by Navy SSN and SSBN submarines today.

As a veteran of World War II, he was a radio operator and rifle marksman with the Army Headquarters Battery, 221st Field Artillery Battalion. He fought in the battle of Guadalcanal and participated in the Northern Solomon and Southern Philippines military campaigns. He was awarded a bronze service star. He was a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars.

He graduated from Mitchell College with an associate's degree in electrical engineering.  He was an avid gardener who was relied upon by his family and many friends for advice and expertise about growing countless different kinds of plants.

He was also active as an amateur radio operator and was a member of the Southeastern Massachusetts Amateur Radio Association, Quarter Century Wireless Association and the Navy Military Affiliate Radio System. His radio call letters were W1VRP, and N0UXX.

Survivors include his widow; a daughter, Linda Lee Chapman; a son, Michael John Amaral; and three grandchildren, Cristin Marie Marr, Michelle Lee Marr and Emily Louise Amaral.   He was predeceased by all of his brothers and sisters.

His memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday at the Old Lyme Congregational Church.  Arrangements are by the Fulton-Theroux Funeral Home of Niantic.