Keith E. Lamonica (W7DXX), a veteran broadcaster and former adjunct professor at New Mexico State University, died Thursday. He was 81.

Keith was born in a suburb of London, England, the son of Edna Donnelly and a Canadian soldier. He was later adopted by an American soldier, Ralph Lamonica, who married Edna Donnelly. Keith was a naturalized U.S. citizen who grew up in England; Fairfield, California; and the Tri-Cities area in central Washington State. He attended Bushy Park High School in London and schools in Fairfield, California. When not enthusiastically involved in science classes, Keith served on the track team. He was the first person in Fairfield to hear the tones from the Soviet Sputnik satellite on his ham radio and made the front page of his local paper as a teenager for the accomplishment.

A lifelong amateur radio enthusiast, Keith was a career broadcaster. He worked at radio and television stations in a number of cities and states, including Tacoma, Washington; KDAY in Los Angeles; WMPS in Memphis; WAAY in Huntsville, Alabama; and at other stations in Oregon, Nevada, Colorado, and Florida. During the 1970s, Keith worked for 73 Magazine in New Hampshire. Although he began his broadcasting career as a DJ, Keith soon transitioned into news. He was the recipient of a Peabody Award for his coverage of the James Earle Ray trial. He also has numerous awards from the Associated Press for news stories.

Lamonica also was a pioneer in the satellite radio talk show industry, establishing a talk show called FM American. He also hosted a talk radio show on the Sun Broadcast Network. He testified on satellite issues in front of the U.S. Congress during the years of the Reagan administration.

In his later years, Keith transitioned into establishing the world's first remote base for ham radio, working with other amateur radio enthusiasts to develop the software to allow individuals without access to antennas to work ham radio remotely through a computer.

He also served as an adjunct professor, teaching broadcasting and public speaking classes at several colleges and universities in Massachusetts in the early 2000s, and, later, at New Mexico State University and Dona Ana Community College in Las Cruces, NM.

He is survived by his wife, Mary; three daughters: Angela Walker of Iuka, Miss.; Dana Lamonica of Hollywood, Ala., and Emily Lamonica of Las Cruces, NM; as well as by numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

At his request, no funeral services will be held. A celebration of his life will occur in Huntsville, Alabama, in May 2025 when family can gather.