Larry Tesler

I first met Larry when we were students at Stanford in the 60's.  He was already deeply involved with computers, working at the Stanford Genetics and Computer Science departments.  I, on the other hand, had no computer experience at all, except for an occasional game of Space War at the computer center.  Our interests did overlap, however, outside of Stanford - Larry was involved with the Midpeninsula Free University, while I attended various counter-culture activities, including encounter sessions (in one of which, during a wrestling encounter with another guy, I accidentally bumped rather roughly into Larry's girlfriend, slightly injuring her already injured nose).  

After Stanford, I lost contact with Larry for a number of years: I joined the Peace Corps and traveled a lot, while Larry delved deeper into computers, at the Stanford Artificial Intelligence Laboratory, Xerox Parc, and Apple Computer (as Chief Scientist).  We each married, and my wife and children became close friends and neighbors of Larry and his wife Colleen.  We spent many happy times together, on trips to San Francisco, hikes at nearby Windy Hill, and dinner parties at their home in Portola Valley.  It was during this period when I got to know Larry even better.  He had become a notable figure in the computer industry, and was certainly the smartest person I had ever met.  But more importantly, he was, at the same time, sweet, gentle, modest - not characteristics typically on display in Silicon Valley.  He was a wonderful friend to me and my family, and I treasure the times I spent with him and Colleen.  I miss him terribly.

To learn more about his amazing accomplishments, read his entry in Wikipedia, read his personal website nomodes.com, or watch the videos on the next page.