Conference repair::reserve_forces

184.0. "ADM Grace Hopper has passed away" by NEST::BARBER (Experience is the world's teacher) Fri Jan 03 1992 14:24

 Copied from the source W/O permision...
    
    
From:	ASABET::ASABET::MRGATE::"A1::FREDRICKSON.MARK"  2-Jan-92 17:09
From:	NAME: Mark Fredrickson @ MLO        
	FUNC: Public Relations Mgmt.          
	TEL: 223-4930                         <FREDRICKSON.MARK AT A1 at EMASA2 at MLO>

On January 1, Grace Hopper passed away. A historic figure in the 
history of the computer industry, Admiral Hopper had been employed by 
Digital as a senior consultant since her retirement from the U.S. Navy 
in 1986. She was 85. 

Frank Donovan prepared the attached, and has asked that it be shared 
with the Digital public relations community. Frank is handling 
inquiries from the news media. He can be reached at (603) 884-4489. 

Regards, 

Mark


For More Information:
Frank Donovan
(603) 884-4489
         
                              Admiral Hopper Dies
              
              Rear Admiral Grace Murray Hopper (USNR Ret.) died New 
         Year's Day at her home in Arlington, Virginia. She had 
         celebrated her 85th birthday on December 9.
              At the time of her death she was employed as a senior 
         consultant at Digital Equipment Corporation. Since joining 
         Digital in 1986, Admiral Hopper actively represented the 
         company at industry forums, making presentations that focused 
         on Government issues and participating in corporate 
         educational programs. 
              In September, President George Bush awarded the National 
         Medal of Technology to Admiral Hopper "for her pioneering 
         accomplishments in the development of computer programming 
         languages that simplified computer technology and opened the 
         door to a significantly larger universe of users." She was 
         the first woman to receive the award as an individual. 
              "Grace took every opportunity to challenge people, young 
         and old, to consider the infinite possibilities of 
         technology," said Kenneth H. Olsen, president of Digital 
         Equipment Corporation, a long-time friend and associate. "We 
         will miss her brilliance and humor."
                                    (more)

         2. Admiral Hopper Dies
              Admiral Hopper was sometimes called "Amazing Grace" 
         because she recorded successful careers in academia, business 
         and the United States Navy while making history in the 
         computer field. Just as Adm. Hyman Rickover was father of the 
         nuclear navy, Rear Adm. Hopper was the mother of computerized 
         data automation in the naval service.
              Admiral Hopper joined Digital in 1986, shortly after her 
         retirement as the U.S. Navy's oldest officer on active duty. 
         The reitrement ceremony was conducted aboard the USS 
         Constitution, the service's oldest commissioned warship. She 
         had devoted her military career to keeping the Navy on the 
         leading edge of computer technology.
              Admiral Hopper was born Grace Brewster Murray on 
         December 9, 1906 in New York City. She began summering in 
         Wolfeboro, N.H., in 1907 and regarded the town on the shores 
         of Lake Winnipesaukee as her second home.
              After receiving a Ph.D in mathematics from Yale in 1934, 
         she began her professional life as a math teacher at Vassar 
         College, her alma mater, where she ultimately became an 
         associate professor. Later, she worked as a top scientist at 
         Sperry Corporation and its predecessors.
                                    (more)

         3. Admiral Hopper Dies	
              However, her employer of choice was always the Navy, 
         which she joined in 1943 at the height of World War II. As a 
         lieutenant assigned to the Bureau of Ordnance Computation 
         Project at Harvard University, Adm. Hopper was thrust into 
         the world of computing as a programmer on the first large 
         scale digital computer, the Mark I. 
              Mustered out of the Navy in 1946, she remained at 
         Harvard as a faculty member in the computation laboratory. 
         She continued to work on Mark II and Mark II Navy computers 
         and maintained her Navy career as an active duty reservist.
              Although retired from the Navy reserve in 1966 because 
         of age, Adm. Hopper was recalled within a year to full-time 
         active duty and steadily advanced to flag rank. Her 
         assignment to the Naval Data Automation Command in 
         Washington, D.C., permitted her to refine computer language 
         techniques to the Navy's advantage and to keep that service 
         at the cutting edge of computer technology.
              Adm. Hopper had received honorary degrees from more than 
         40 colleges and universities, and had been honored by her 
         peers on several occasions. She was recipient of the first 
         Computer Sciences "Man of the Year" award given by the Data 
         Processing Management Association. Her entry in "Who's Who" 
         takes 34 lines to thumbnail her accomplishments, appointments 
         and honors. 
                                    (more)

         4. Admiral Hopper Dies	
              She is survived by a brother, Dr. Roger F. Murray II of 
         New Hampshire; a sister, Mary Murray Westcote of New Jersey, 
         nieces and nephews.
              Private graveside services will be held in Arlington 
         National Cemetery. Contributions may be made in her memory to 
         the Navy Relief Fund or to Brewster Academy in Wolfeboro, 
         N.H.
         
                                      ###
         

    

     She was a great lady and those fortunate to have met, or
     known her, will miss her. She set the example and standard 
     for all of us to follow..
                                            Bob B