Tell us about what you're doing with your life
I signed up for campus interview with IBM back in the day and ended up spending 36 years there before joining the spinoff company Kyndryl the past two years. After 5 moves with IBM over the years, we figured we'd move ourselves to NE Florida in 2020, when we had a lot of COVID leisure time, so we wouldn't have to move when we retire. We're very much enjoying the outdoor lifestyle of Florida, lots of biking, beaching, boating, and fishing.
What was your favorite class at Cornell, or the one you found most useful?
Before Cornell I never touched a computer and had no idea what I'd do with one. CS100, taught by Richard Conway, was a life changing event. It was an amazing feeling that I could go to the basement of Baker Hall and the Terak micro-computers would respond to my instructions through this language called PL/C. It was such an empowering feeling and as the saying goes, the rest is history: I went on to get my BS and M.Eng. in computer engineering then onto mainframe development at IBM.
What is your favorite memory of your time at Cornell?
Not exactly a favorite memory but certainly a haunting one. I took a Physics class in laser that was being offered for the first time. For whatever reason, I skipped nearly all the lectures and most of the labs. I did show up for the prelims and final but I just stared at the questions like deer in headlight. The only reason I didn't get an F was the prof's kindness in not wanting to fail anyone in the inaugural session of the course. I've had many recurring nightmares of skipping class and facing finals throughout the years.
Which Cornell classmates do you keep in touch with?
We have a great alumni fan club of Cornell Lacrosse in Atlanta where we lived for 24 years prior to Florida. Always a great time gathering at a sports bar with fellow alums to watch our talented lacrosse team. Doubly so whenever we take down Syracuse - Beat ‘Cuse, Burn the Dome!
How has your time at Cornell influenced you since you graduated?
Two Cornell diplomas (BS, MEng) still left empty space on the wall so I had to wallpaper it some more with eCornell certificates in Product and Service Design (2009) and Executive Leadership (2012). May be I'm just subconsciously trying to redeem my guilt for completely blowing off that Laser class back in the day.
What are you most looking forward to at Reunion 2024?
Experiencing that Fall 1980 freshman bright eyed feeling again. Meet up with fellow alums, tracing my old paths, and showing my wife the basement of Baker Hall where it all started for me and computers.
