Noted DXer Luis Chartarifsky, XE1L, of Mexico City, passed away Monday, March 18 after a heart attack. An ARRL Life Member, Chartarifsky held Top of Honor Roll (Phone and Mixed), with all 340 current entities confirmed. He also held DXCC for Mixed, Phone, CW and RTTY, as well as 5-Band DXCC, and had a total of 354 entities, including deleted.

Chartarifsky became interested in radio and listening to DX stations as a child. He was first licensed in 1973 as XE0LCH and later as XE1LCH; in 1984, he became XE1L. Chartarifsky was a member of the following major DXpeditions: TX5K (Clipperton Island), Peter I (3Y0PI), Spratly (9M0M), Nepal (9N7MD), Western Sahara (S07L), Mali (TZ6RM), Revillagigedo (XF4L), Easter Island (XR0Y), Juan Fernandez (XR0Z) and Myanmar (XZ0A). He also operated in contests from various parts of Mexico, the US (including the Dry Tortugas) and Venezuela. Chartarifsky, who loved to travel, also operated from Ascension Island, Barbados, Jamaica, the Russian Polar Station, Aruba and Israel, just to name a few.

Dave Farnsworth, WJ2O, of McConnellsville, New York, was on the XR0Y and TX5K DXpeditions with Chartarifsky. “I was very happy to learn that we would be together again on Clipperton Island,” Farnsworth told the ARRL. “We were chatting on the boat to the island just a few weeks ago about how he managed to get the licenses from the Nepal government for the 9N7MD DXpedition. I said, ‘Luis, you have friends everywhere.’ He looked me in the eye and sternly said, ‘No, I make friends!’ I knew at that time it was a quote that I’ll remember for as long as I live.”

IARU Region 2 Secretary Ramón Santoyo, XE1KK, remembered Chartarifsky fondly in an online statement. “He was a Mexican ambassador of Amateur Radio, a good friend, a radio amateur by heart who enjoyed the many corners of our great hobby.”

“I believe Luis was one of the most well-known and well-liked hams,” said ARRL Membership and Volunteer Programs Manager Dave Patton, NN1N. “He was a fine operator and was active in most aspects of Amateur Radio. He has left us too soon, but we have his QSLs on the wall to always remind us of his big laugh and indomitable spirit.”

Chartarifsky is survived by his wife Malvin and daughters Jackeline and Sharon. An online condolence book has been established, and radio amateurs are invited to post condolence messages that will be forwarded to Chartarifsky’s family.