585 Lincoln Ave
Palo Alto CA 94301
After Washburn, it was 5 years at the University of Minnesota for an Electrical Engineering degree. Technical interest was in microwave and communication technology. Even back then in the early 60’s, the San Francisco Bay Area was a hot area for the microwave (not ovens) and communication area and so was my first pick. The first years I was working on high power microwave vacuum tubes. Twenty thousand volts and 100 kilowatts were typical. I wanted a change and got to work on solid-state devices with 10 volts and one watt output. This was much more fun. It was 21 years at Litton Industries, but I needed a change. Switched companies and also the work, and got into developing software applications for automated testing of microwave components. Changed companies again in 1994 and worked for Harris Corporation in Redwood Shores (all these companies are essentially in Silicon Valley). Again the work was in automated testing. These applications were much more sophisticated and were very interesting and rewarding to work on. In 2002, Harris decided to move most of the operation to North Carolina, I was out of a job, but a couple times did consulting for them. While on one of our vacations to Hawaii in the spring of 2004, I got the bug to start a company that would install Wi-Fi networks in homes and small businesses. It was fun going through the process to start a company, take the classes I needed to learn the technology and build a web site. Last fall while on vacation in Hawaii again, I concluded that in spite of advertising my services, that I would need to make many many cold calls and with my personality and at this point of my life, that would not be fun. So in December I shut down my services and changed the web site to information only on Wi-Fi security.
Twenty years ago, I met the love of my life. Dr. Carol Szymanski. One Friday night I noticed that my cat suddenly went blind. I saw my vet. the next day and he recommended I see a Veterinary Ophthalmologist in Menlo Park (next door town). I took the cat to Carol, the same day, and 3 days later, the cat could see again. Three weeks later we had our first date. We complement ourselves very well. Carol is the pessimist, I’m the optimist. We both love our animals, now we have 2 cats and 2 parakeets. The Big Island of Hawaii is our favorite vacation spot and like to stay in the town of Volcano, a very peaceful spot in the middle of a rain forest. I always seem to have lots of activities around the house and finally now have the time to build a seismometer and I’m also volunteering my time explaining the transition to digital television that is coming next February. This is going to be a Big Deal for those of us without cable or satellite service. We love the Palo Alto area. It is in the heart of Silicon Valley. I attend monthly professional meetings on internet security and new wireless technologies.
1. Something about me that might surprise my classmates is that I like to cook, develop new recipes, and then wash the dishes by hand. Forget the electric dishwasher.
2. Who knew that 50 years after graduation, I would be in the process of submitting an Amicus Curiae (friend of the Court) brief to the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia. A non-attorney with little legal knowledge, the process to learn and understand what the requirements to submit the brief has been very rewarding. The subject is the transition to digital television coming after February 17, 2009. The Community Broadcasters Association want to muck up the process by suing the Federal Communications Commission regarding the unavailability of particular DTV converter boxes. My brief will support the FCC.
3. After all those years in school and at work, Acts I and II of my life, I plan that in Act III I will continue to keep up with the technology world, keep my mind alert and probably stay in the Palo Alto area. When Carol and I travel we say, “what would it be like to live here”, so far we haven’t found that “other” ideal place. For Palo Alto, the weather great. In winter it can get down to freezing in December through March or even April, but that is only at night. During the day it gets up to the 50’s or 60’s. Summer is in the 70’s to 80’s most days. However no rain from May to October. Whatever your technical interest, there is someone close by to answer or ask questions. Extension classes are readily available from UC Berkeley or UC Santa Cruz and close by on just about any subject you can think of. Class catalogs are ½” thick.
4. If there is anything I have learned in the past 50 years, it is that I love to watch, learn, or go through the process. Whether it is watching a building being torn down, checking out a construction site, watch the workers at an In n’ Out fast serve restaurant, or submitting a legal brief, it is just fun and educational to see how it is done.
