Month: March 2026

After bravely surviving over a decade of painful cancer symptoms, exhausting treatments and major operations, Max has left us and the Max-shaped void he leaves is unlikely to be filled. He was a uniquely energetic American. I refer to him as “American” because he was one of the most persistent practitioners of democratic engagement of anyone I’ve ever met. The first time I met Max he was gathering signatures outside the Byrd Theater for a petition to start a new LPFM radio station in our beloved RVA. Not only did he found WRIR and WRWK he was a well-traveled enthusiast of that miracle of democratic community called Burning Man serving as support staff for at least a dozen events. He set up livestreams of events for WRWK and attended local and distant pro-democracy protests well-equipped for journalistic recording.

Max was what I call a technological renaissance man whose self-taught mind spanned a variety of technologies coupled with the rare ability to explain in clear, specific detail the complex workings of whatever system he was building. Nothing seemed to inspire him more than being faced with a technical problem requiring a workable, affordable solution. He had a mind like those that brought us radio and television: enthusiastic “amateur” tinkerers, without formal training but driven by a natural curiosity and almost uncanny insight into workable solutions. Sometimes those with such technical expertise can be a bit arrogant in their knowledge but not so Max. Whenever I saw him he was always cheerful and enthusiastic (even in the midst of great suffering) and did not waste time wallowing in self-pity or self-importance.

Like all of us, he had his rough edges, but overall Max was a delightful and amazing ball of dynamic energy who could fix almost anything and who amassed his own personal warehouse of spare parts for future projects. He faced enormous economic and health challenges with amazing courage and astonishing endurance and, without saying a word, taught me that I cannot afford the luxury of complaining about the comparatively tiny challenges I face in my own life. It was an inspiration to know Max and an honor to have spent some of his last moments with him. Max may be gone in body but his spirit will continue to resonate in his radio creations and in the lives of those he inspired.
Thank you Max!

We were in the last quarter of our local news commentary show “D (Democracy) How with the 3 Rs” in our Midlothian Studio when a ceiling light I’d never paid attention to banged open swinging from it’s hinge like door opening to somewhere.

We looked up, at each other and went on with the show.

10 minutes later Ian called in. I texted that we were live but he called back and said simply: “He’s gone”

We all knew.

The following is a mashup of my thoughts and some media that noted his work in the short time he hurtled past us. Once he realized he had to create the world he knew was possible he was on his way, dividing his energies between catalyzing better ideas and social groups and promoting better Media to reach more people. From Public Access Cable to Community Radio to social action groups he was always on Task. Having a full life was something he took very seriously. His work ensnared bystanders like Tom Sawyers painting his fence. People joined him to celebrate having a life.

I joined him and am glad I did. And It is not too late.

Wherever he has gone I think his intelligence is still looking for ways to understand what’s up and how to be useful.

Me and Media Mash-up:

By him – (channeled)

I took what I needed.

I gave what I could.

I made a mess of both.

The world is slightly less doomed

than it would have been without me —

and considerably more cluttered.

That’ll do.

Of him  

What his life says to those still here

Some people arrive in your life

like a weather system —

inconvenient, impossible to ignore,

and responsible for things growing

that wouldn’t have grown otherwise.

He saw the dark clearly.

He chose the light anyway.

Not because it was easy.

Because the alternative was unacceptable.

That’s not a small thing.

That’s everything.

Media that took note of his flyby:

(https://rvamag.com/music/no-dead-air.html)

“The name Christopher Maxwell is a familiar one in some local radio circles. Having helped to start WRIR, Maxwell is also the founder of WRWK, The Work, 93.9. He created the community-based station because he wanted to provide an outlet for local voices to “push the needle” for progressive change. 

WRWK focuses on talk shows involving local voices. They have interviewed candidates for local office, including those whose voices aren’t often heard in local media. They’ve broadcasted from a variety of local political events over their years of operation, including the 2017 Women’s March and the Virginia 7th Congressional District Debate. 

“If we want to create a conversation across silos,” Maxwell said, “and one where humanity can become what’s [ultimately] possible, I need to go to that edge.” 

That edge was Chesterfield County. A few months after being on-air, Maxwell saw changes in the county that he believes WRWK was a catalyst for. He noted the unseating of Congressman David Brat, a Republican, by Rep. Abigail Spanberger, the first Democratic representative of the 7th District in Virginia since 1970. “

He had an impact, left his mark and all told, left the place better than he found it.

He was amazed as we all are at how many people chose the comfort of the moment, the certainty of the known and immediate to the possible.

So he lived most of his life in that discomfort. Causing upset and change for us all, hoping to increase the ranks of the people who understand that Comfort is a brief vacation, not an end. Life is a journey.

So its just us now. Look around, try to be useful.

Find and embrace your work. You could send money but we’d prefer you.

Join us at The Work FM if you have a story to tell.

Ron

the work FM