A few recently departed individuals whom I’d like to remember, some personally closer than others:
- Paul Karger. I learned of Paul’s death earlier today from a colleague. Paul was one of the true characters in the Computer Security field. A pioneer in multilevel security, and a key player in a little system called Multics (perhaps you’ve heard of it). Paul was a regular at the ACSAC conference, and he could always be counted on for a controversial opinion or a colorful anectdode. I’ll miss Paul. As I said in a comment when I heard his passing confirmed: Our profession is the poorer with his passing, but remains enriched by his contributions.
- Harold Gould. To most, Harold Gould is known as Rhoda Morganstern’s father, or as a character in a sitcom. I knew Mr. Gould in a different light. I saw him in person just a few months ago as Plato in Meeting of Minds. Here was a demonstration of his strength as a character actor: with little rehearsal, he just became the famed Greek philospher. I’m so glad I had the opportunity to see him so close and personal so recently.
- Paul Conrad. Paul Conrad was the editorial cartoonist at the Los Angeles Times when I was growing up and in college, and it was he who taught me the power of the editorial cartoon. I still have a number of his cartoons clipped; his work is indelibly drawn in my memory. For example, after the first HOV lane went up in Southern California, he did a cartoon that showed the changable message signs that read, in order, “The Diamond Lane” / “Is Working Well” / “If You Don’t Like it” / “Go To Hell” / Caltrans. He was most notable for skewering politicians, especially Republicans, and was a strong demonstration that, under Norman Chandler, the Times was not a a Republican mouthpiece. This fact was omitted by the LA Times obituary: read the Bill Boyarsky piece on Paul Conrad for the full story.
