ARI Cremona (IQ2CY): A Legacy Since 1948, Honoring "Franco Stramezzi"

Stagno Lombardo, Italy – The A.R.I. (Associazione Radioamatori Italiani) Sezione di Cremona, identified by its call sign IQ2CY, has a long and storied history, dating back to its unofficial beginnings in 1948. The section is proudly named the "FRANCO STRAMEZZI" A.R.I. CREMONA SECTION in memory of its founding member.

The section is located at VIA BRANCERE 12 - LOC. BRANCERE, 26049 STAGNO LOMBARDO CR. For inquiries, you can contact President IU2FYL Cantarelli Davide.

Meetings are held every Wednesday from 9:00 PM to 12:00 AM. For more information, visit their website: www.aricr.it.

The Birth of the Cremona Association

In the distant year of 1948, Franco Stramezzi I1AZN, a radio amateur from Crema, gathered a group of friends who began working to establish an Amateur Radio Association in Cremona to represent their area. These pioneering individuals – Pollaro Elio I1BEM, Fornaroli Davide I1BMF, Sali Edoardo Bruno I1FKS, and Aschedanini Antonio I1FKT – succeeded with enormous sacrifices in creating the association that continues to this day.

In those early days, difficulties were numerous. Licenses had to be renewed annually, and, interestingly, call signs were assigned by ARI itself. Just a few years later, in 1953, the association already boasted twenty-eight members:

• Stramezzi Franco I1AZN
• Pollaro Elio I1BEM
• Fornaroli Davide I1BMF
• Arisi Guelfo I1BQ
• Frati Alessandro I1BUI
• Bottoli Davide I1CEH
• Zanibelli Enrico I1CEM
• Mosconi Pierbattista I1CIF
• Zorzino Luigi I1COR
• Frittoli Sergio I1CUN
• Arvati Sergio I1DDH
• Lampugnani Amulio I1FFC
• Sali Edoardo Bruno I1FKS
• Aschedanini Antonio I1FKT
• Lorandi Luigi I1FVM
• Ciampellini Enzo I1HH
• Curtarelli Mario I1RMO
• Bonazzoli Giovanni I1SGO
• Parmigiani Alessandro I1SGP
• Pigoli Tulio I1SNQ
• Galli Emilio I1SNR
• Pederzani Giuseppe I1SOM
• Aroldi Ugo I1SPZ
• Andrini Evo I1SVM
• Frittoli Gino I1SZH
• Premoli Angelo I1TBJ
• Della Giovanna Giovanni I1THZ
• Barbieri Bruno I1TMX

Finding a Home

Due to the lack of a proper headquarters, assemblies were convened at the Hotel San Giorgio in Via Dante. It wasn't until 1969 that, upon request presented by the Prefectural Commissioner Dr. Santini, the section was assigned premises in what was then the Leonardo Headquarters, now the Palazzo Dell’Arte in Piazza Marconi.

Following the untimely passing of its founding member, the section was dedicated to his memory and remains known today as the "FRANCO STRAMEZZI" A.R.I. CREMONA SECTION.