MIT Class of 1963, Class Notes for November 2004 issue of Technology Review
Here I am writing to you from the middle of summer for the November issue of Technology Review. Barbara and I have stayed close to home this season, enjoying visitors from all over the country, family and friends, and occasionally getting out to our secret hideaway in the San Diego backcountry. Our place is in a mountain forest near a town called Julian, which you may have seen mentioned in stories about the terrible Southern California wildfires last fall. Unfortunately this year we had almost no rain at all, and this fire season could be even worse. Being in the backcountry is therapeutic for us. We're 11 miles from the nearest place you can buy a gallon of milk or a gallon of gas; we don't have a phone and you have to drive a mile to a place where you can get cell phone reception. It's peaceful; there are no distractions. When we bought his place in 1988 our kids thought we were crazy. It's very isolated, they said, and it's boring. There's nothing to do but go for walks, watch the birds on the feeders behind our porch, and have a glass of wine while watching the sun go down over Black Mountain. Now that they have their own families they understand more. OK, OK, enough romanticizing. Let's get on to our class heroes for the month.
*Steve Ditmeyer E-mailed me
to say that he had completed his first year of teaching at the Industrial
College of the Armed Forces (ICAF) in Washington, DC, where he holds the
Department of Transportation Faculty Chair. He taught courses in macro- and
micro-economics and in transportation, and he really enjoys the experience of
teaching. ICAF is part of the National Defense University where senior military
officers and civilians from the US and abroad receive a postgraduate,
executive-level course of study to prepare them for higher levels of
responsibility. Steve had previously served as the Director of the Office of
Research and Development at the Federal Railroad Administration. On Memorial
Day, Steve met with *Barry Rosof, who was in town from Edmonton,
Alberta, where he is Vice President and General Manager of C-FER Technologies.
Together, they attended a very moving ceremony at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial
in which the name of our late classmate *Alan Brudno was added to the
Wall.
*Bob Gilbertson wrote to
tell us that his smart antenna, fabless semiconductor firm, Motia, recently
raised $10 million in a series C financing round. Motia's new innovation has 10
times the range of previous Wi-Fi systems and demonstrated direct TV beamed
into moving vehicles (the roofs of Cadillac Escalades in this case.)
*Ron Vivian wrote a note
with upbeat and downbeat tones. Ron filled us in on his history at MIT and
beyond. Ron tried to get in to MIT from high school, but was accepted sophomore
year as a transfer student from the University of Texas at Austin. "After
3 years in Hell", Ron writes, "I finally made it out in '63".
After MIT he got an MSEE in 1964 at the University of Texas. From there he
spent 4 years with the CIA in Virginia, and 10 years with Raytheon in Santa
Barbara. His next stop was Litton AMEcom in the Baltimore area. While there he
had a massive, near fatal brain hemorrhage that ended his working career. Ron
says he uses a walker and his vision is so poor that he can't drive any more.
Ron's wife teaches physically handicapped children in elementary school, and
they have 3 married children. Ron still has his ham radio license, W5EXT, and
is trying to get an antenna up so he can get on the air. The Vivians live in
Kerrville, TX, near San Antonio, and Ron included his phone number,
830-367-7319. Any members of the Class of 1963 who are radio hams might try
giving Ron a call, one way or another.
Finally, two obituary notices. *Carl
W. Marquis, Jr. of Enola, PA, passed away July 6, 2004. Carl served in the
Navy during the Korean War, and after graduation in course 21 (Humanities)
worked many years as a consulting scientist with Raytheon. He is survived by
his wife, Martha, and sons Douglas Marquis, of Westin, MA and Carl Marquis III,
of Burke, VA. *Thomas Wojick of Milford, MA died June 8, 2004 at home.
Thomas graduated in course 15 (Management) and was a Project Manager for the
former Shipley Co. in Marlboro for 17 years. He is survived by his wife Nancy,
his sons Thomas Wojick Jr. of Mansfield, MA, Gregory Wojick of Haverhill, MA
and his daughter, Christine Wojick Lilienfeld of Chestnut Hill, MA. Our
condolences to the families.
Regards to all. You can reach me at: Mike Bertin, 22 Gillman St, Irvine, CA 92612. E-mail: MCB1@aol.com. If you want to schmooze, call me at (949) 786-9450.