On November 27, Thanksgiving Day, 2025, we lost a key player in South Carolina Emergency Communications. This page is to memorialize Gary’s life and his immeasurable contributions to the people of South Carolina.
Anyone who would like to make a tribute to Gary, please email to [email protected] and put your tribute in the email.
Gary joined SCHEART in 2010 and became a driving force to enhance the analog repeater network and build out the DMR system. He accepted the responsibility of coordinating deployable assets and frequently went with the SCHEART Communications Trailer on exercises and events. Gary served on the Board of SCHEART, a Nonprofit Public Benefit Corporation which supports and encourages the use of amateur radio in support of public functions and emergency communications. In addition to SCHEART volunteer activities, Gary was a key member of the State Emergency Operations Center Radio Room Team and was always willing to cover any shift, tackle any project or go on any mission. He brought decades of amateur radio experience to the team and helped build communication redundancy across the state. Gary was also active in the Department of Public Health Medical Reserve Corps. He volunteered for the Midlands communications support team and point of distribution team. In addition to helping state agencies, Gary served as the Department of Homeland Security Region 4 SHARES Coordinator. Gary loved to train and educate his fellow amateur radio volunteers and pass along his knowledge to help others grow. He was a friend and mentor to so many hams around the state. His willingness to volunteer and educate others will be greatly missed.
Roger Mull
KD4JQJ
Listen to the on-air tribute to Gary by members of the SCHEART team on the SCHEART network.
Recorded Dec. 4, 2025, 0900.
So sorry to hear that Gary has passed. He was an outstanding asset to emergency management in South Carolina. He will be missed but his legacy will live on through his outstanding contributions.
Kim Stenson Director, South Carolina Emergency Management Division
In addition to his considerable contributions, he was also a good and loyal friend. In the 15 years or so I had the pleasure of of working with him, I never saw him get angry, frustrated or too tired to take on yet another task.
God bless you, Gary. You will be sorely missed and never forgotten.
Your friend, Gene Retske W4DSN
In the way too short time I knew Gary, it was always like going to the Land of Oz to see the Great Wizard whenever I spent time with him. He knew so much and taught so freely and every minute with him was an absolute joy and honor.
May God bless you in eternal peace, my friend.
Bill Poston KD4BP
Huge loss. I just spoke with Gary last week. He was a wellspring of knowledge and an incredible help to me navigating the SHARES community. A colleague and friend, he will be missed. Prayers and blessings to his family. Marion
Sent from my iPhone. Love someone deeply and have a Jesus filled day.
Synergy Spine
Gary may have been small in stature, but he was a giant in his contributions to emergency management and communications. A true, genuine servant heart and a model for everyone, giving of himself until the very end. What an example. We’re all better for having known you, Gary. Thank you. You are missed.
Dave Perry SCEMD Logistics
Not long ago I was with Gary in the ETV Radio Room talking about go boxes and antennas. He was full of good humor, smiles and radio advice. I will miss him. May God bless him forever, and also bless his family and friends at this time.
Bob Connell, KI4RAX
This breaks my heart. Gary was an amazing individual and always willing to try something new and different. He WAS NOT a “Fudd” and taught us all to be open minded when it comes to EMCOMM. In fact, I can think of two times Gary wanted me to try something with him that I thought was crazy; until it wasn’t.. He deployed, as a volunteer, on several of my disaster deployments and it was always good to see Gary there. This SK will be an incredible loss to the SC EMCOMM community.
It is a reminder for all of us to step up our game and keep moving forward. You will be missed.
Matthew Littleton- KN4SWB
My Dad, Gary Lennert, was so proud to work with all of you at SCHEART. He could talk endlessly about the good work you all did, his excitement to go out on training exercises and especially to deploy for real life missions. He truly loved being a part of SCHEART and the emergency management community. I will always remember Dad in his boonie hat, ready to grab his go bag and hitch up the comms trailer. It’s so heartening to read all your messages and know that he was impactful to so many of you. Thank you to all of you for being an important part of his life.
Matt Lennert
KO4ZYS
Gary was always so positive when we communicated with each other (going back to 2013) during his time with the DPH MRC. No matter the response, training, or a simple discussion about radios, he always tried to look at the good. Even when we needed to cross jurisdictional boundaries as in the picture when we were in the PeeDee, he never complained or failed to show up. Gary was the best and will be deeply missed by everyone who knew him.
