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 challenge 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!
