[Csci1301] Ken Iverson

[John Howland]

Many of you know that I was fortunate to have a friendship with
Dr. Ken Iverson.  I am sad to report that Ken has passed.  He had
a profound influence on my career.  Here is a note from his son
Eric and an obituary from the Toronto newspaper.


Date: Thu, 21 Oct 2004 09:44:37 -0400
From: Eric Iverson <eiverson at SYMPATICO.CA>
Subject: Dr. Kenneth E. Iverson

Ken Iverson passed away Tuesday evening, October 19th at the age of 83. Ken was
at his computer Saturday afternoon working on a new J lab when he had a stroke.
Three days later he died quietly with his wife Jean by his side, along with
other  family members. Ken had a wonderful and memorable life. He enjoyed it
fully and he freely shared his joy with so many others.

Many people have contributed to the start, growth, and evolution of J. But Ken's
role was central and inspirational. J exists because of Ken and we will always
remember that.

The J Forum was a particular joy for Ken. He was an avid reader and was amazed
and pleased with the civility.

In his last days Ken expressed confidence that the J seeds he had planted had
taken root and was satisfied that the steady and healthy growth would continue.
Ken has passed a torch and it is now up to us.

Ken's immediate family is having a private memorial service. In lieu of flowers,
please make a memorial donation to the charity of your choosing or to the
Academy of Life Long Learning (www.allto.ca). Ken's life was based on the
importance of education and teaching and in recent years, with Jean's serious
involvement, the Academy was an important part of Ken's wider life outside of J.

/Eric Iverson


Date: Fri, 22 Oct 2004 18:09:54 -0400
From: Dan King <danking at SYMPATICO.CA>
Subject: Public Memorial Service for Dr. Kenneth E. Iverson

The Toronto APL Special Interest Group:

There will be a public memorial service to celebrate the life and works of...

        DR. KENNETH IVERSON

Thursday November 18th 7-9 pm
OISE Auditorium
252 Bloor Street W. (exit St. George Station)
Toronto, Canada

Please RSVP by return email if you wish to be on the speakers' list.
Dan King 416-595-1782   http://www.torontoapl.ca
(web site will be operating by Tuesday Oct 26)
_____________________________________________________________

KENNETH E. IVERSON - Noted Computer Scientist  (Globe & Mail)
Kenneth E. Iverson, a pioneer in the field of computer science, died on
Tuesday, October 19th in Toronto, Canada. He was 83.  He is survived by his
wife of 58 years, Jean (nee Nicholson); three sons, Eric (Suzann), Paul and
Keith (Marcella); daughter Janet Cramer (Kevin); foster- daughters Robin
Dick and Sherry Matusky; and five grandchildren.

Born on a small farm in Camrose, Alberta in 1920, he served in the Canadian
military during World War II. Dr. Iverson earned a B.A. in Mathematics and
Physics from Queen's University and M.A. in Mathematics and Ph.D. in
Applied Mathematics from Harvard University.
While on the faculty of Harvard, Dr. Iverson helped establish the first
graduate course in computer science and also developed a concise
mathematical notation that formed the foundation for APL (A programming
Language) He then joined IBM in 1960.

While at IBM, Dr. Iverson made an historic contribution to computer science
by developing APL into an interactive programming language that was used
widely in academic and commercial applications.
An original thinker and noted scholar, he was named an IBM Fellow in 1971.
For his efforts in mathematics and computer science, Dr. Iverson received
in 1979 the A.M. Turing Award given by the Association for Computing
Machinery, the most prestigious award in computer science.

He was awarded the Harry M. Goode Memorial Award in 1975 in recognition for
his conception and development of APL and named by the IEEE Computer
Society in 1981 as a Computer Pioneer Charter Recipient for his efforts in
the creation and continued vitality of the computer industry . In 1998, he
received from York University an honorary degree of Doctor of Science.

During his career Dr. Iverson worked in various IBM research facilities in
the northeastern United States before moving to Toronto, Canada in 1980 to
join I.P. Sharp Associates, a timesharing computer system provider. In
recent years Dr. Iverson was involved in the development and implementation
of the ''J'' programming language with Jsoftware Inc.

Dr. Iverson's love of language and teaching were significant factors in his
lifetime work of trying to impose a grammar and discipline on the language
of mathematics.
A private service will be held for the immediate family. Memorial donations
may be made to a charity of your choice or to the bursary fund of the
Academy for Lifelong Learning (www.allto.ca), 59 St. George St., Toronto
ON, M5S 2E6.
-- 
_______________________________________________________________
John E. Howland       url: http://www.cs.trinity.edu/~jhowland/
Computer Science    email: jhowland at ariel.cs.trinity.edu
Trinity University  voice: (210) 999-7364
One Trinity Place     fax: (210) 999-7477
San Antonio, Texas  78212-7200