Conference 7.286::digital

This came as a severe shock to me - I have known Peter all my years at Digital
and have worked with him not only in his various management capacities but
also as a host and co-moderator of this notesfile.  I will miss him - it's
a tremendous loss for Digital.

					Steve

    
    As someone who interfaced with Peter from the field, I can only say
    I'm shocked by his sudden passing - and I feel like I've lost a
    member of my family.
    
    He was very good people.
    
    	
    		the Greyhawk

    A severe shock to me too.  I probably still have the MAIL he sent me in
    1979.  Peter set an example of what a Program Manager ought to be; see
    his article in the Digital Technical Journal on Alpha (special issue
    1992, volume 4 number 4).
    
      /john henning
       program manager, swat team, csdpg

	I'm quite sad too.. Peter was one of the good ones.. Right up
	there with Simon Szeto.

						mike

    re: .4
    
    Good comparison Mike. I'm at a loss for words.
    
    Jim C.
    
    

    
    	What a shocking news to me and a tremendous loss for Digital. I
    have known Peter during his time at the Mill and grew much more respect
    for him when we shared other outside interests (when he and Donna adopted 
    their forster children). Peter will be remembered in our prayers !
    
    My-Quan

re: .4

Exactly.  Peter and Simon were definately from the same mold.

Bob

From:	DECC::AMARTIN "Alan H. Martin  24-Mar-1995 1151"   24-MAR-1995
11:52:02.11
To:	US2RMC::"[email protected]"
Subj:	RE: Pete Conklin passed away last night!

What a shame.  I'd always wanted to meet him, but never came closer than
sitting at the same ZK lunch table, but having to leave before introducing
myself.

I was given (most of) a listing of his SCAN-10 command scanner by Pat Sweeney
while I was in high school.  I kept it under my bed and read it periodically;
it was the largest corpus of production code I studied before college.  Only
this morning on the drive to work, I was thinking that I should really read
the coroutines he wrote for comment/continuation handling; the only coroutines
I had ever really seen in use.

So you see, he was a symbol of the work I've aspired to do for this company
ever since I was in 11th grade...
				/AHM/SIGH

http://www.ljo.dec.com/Estaff/conklin.html

Dave

    Apparently, Peter suffered a massive heart attack.
    
    Bob

    What a way to start a Monday,
    
    I had the opportunity to support Peters group in the Northeast area
    some years back.  As with other replies, Digital has realized a 
    significant loss with Peters passing.  He was one of the great people
    to work with, for, and around.   
    
    I'm sure friends past and present will miss him.
    
    Dave Quinn
    
    

	[Forwards Deleted]

From:	BOSEPM::JENKINS "STEVE JENKINS, DTN 381-1704, COMMERCIAL SOFTWARE 
PRODUCTS SEGMENT MGR  26-Mar-1995 2050" 26-MAR-1995 20:50:41.48
To:	@CSP_MGRS-SUPV,@OPENVMS_STAFF,@SBG_STAFF,JESSE_LIPCON
Subj:	Information on Memorial Services for Peter Conklin



    The Sunday Globe contained information on the memorial service for
    Peter Conklin - 

    A memorial service will be held at the Harvard Unitarian Church,
    Harvard Common, Harvard, MA on Sunday April 2 at 4 p.m. In lieu of
    flowers, contributions may be made in his memory to the Peter F.
    Conklin Memorial Education Trust Fund, c/o Shawmut Bank, Acton, MA for
    the education of Cambodian-Americans.

    His survivors include his parents, H. Stewart and Louise (Fischer)
    Conklin of Coral Gables FL, his wife Donna (Bennert) Conklin of
    Harvard, his adopted children Sambath and his wife Sophea Soum of
    Harvard and Thear Oeur of Fitchburg, a brother James and his wife
    Kathryn Conklin of Palo Alto CA, and a granddaughter Kimberly Soum of
    Harvard.


    In case you would like to send a card to Donna the address is:

    	Donna Conklin
    	42 Bolton Road
    	Harvard, MA   01451

    
    Jon -
    
    		Thank you for posting the info on Peter. Most appreciated.
    
    	the Greyhawk

    I hardly every write to this notes file, only read.  I have been gone
    for about a week and logged in tonight and saw this.  Very sad, I
    met and talked with Peter several times, very nice and impressive man,
    I will really miss him.  
    
    I don't know what to say but I felt I had to reply...
    
    stunned,
    
    dale

From:	VBORMC::"[email protected]" "MAIL-11 Daemon" 29-MAR-1995
04:21:59.97
To:	vanga::kerrell
CC:	
Subj:	Re: Peter Conklin

Dave, please post this on my behalf.
_____________________________________________________________________

Peter was a true original. 

My contact with him was indeed a marginal part of his contributions
to Digital the company. But for Digital the community, his contribution -
little know to many - was great. With Simon Szeto he was the joint father of 
Noting in DEC. His ability, negotiation skills and the respect he generated
meant that even in times when the highest in DEC denigrated Notes, he
was able to sponsor DIGITAL.NOTE and provide backing to moderati of
this and other conferences. His sponsorship helped ensure that the version
of Notes that superceded Len Kawell's within DEC was developed and 
flourished.

He will be sadly missed by me and the many others that, through contact
with a genuinely humane man, made our lives that little bit richer. My
condolences to his family and friends. The world is poorer for his passing.

Damn, and fare well Peter.

/a
-- 

When I mentioned to Donna the nice notes that people had written about Peter, she
asked that I print them out for her. 
Although our norm is to request permission to give a note to non-noters, I am assuming
that it ok with the authors that I share their comments with Donna and the family. 

Donna is deeply appreciative of the caring and support she is receiving from the many,
long-time Digital friends and of the high regard with which Peter was held by his 
colleagues.

Anne Duncan

Although I had not seen Peter for several years, I met him on several 
occasions during the 70s and early 80s and remember him as friendly,
with a sense humor, and widely regarded as one of the bright young minds
who helped to push Digital to the heights during its relative youth.
I was glad to see that one of those bright young minds made VP.

I remember Donna, too, through her work in marketing and communications.
Always energetic, always upbeat, always involved, never too busy to give
help when it was needed.

Digital thrived with such people.  What company wouldn't?

Mac

<<< Note 3761.16 by STAR::ADUNCAN "Anne Smith Duncan 381-2511" >>> 
-< A request from Donna Conklin >-

When I mentioned to Donna the nice notes that people had written about Peter,
she asked that I print them out for her.  Although our norm is to request
permission to give a note to non-noters, I am assuming that it ok with the
authors that I share their comments with Donna and the family. 

Donna is deeply appreciative of the caring and support she is receiving from the
many, long-time Digital friends and of the high regard with which Peter was held
by his  colleagues.

Anne Duncan

From:	LJSRV2::MSBCS::MRUDDEN "Maritzie Rudden 223-6026  29-Mar-1995 1733 -0500" 29-MAR-1995 17:34:35.67
To:	LJSRV2::ANKLAM
CC:	
Subj:	Got your voicemail message;  please distribute to your networks....

From:	DELNI::PROULX "29-Mar-1995 1256" 29-MAR-1995 13:24:33.04
To:	@PETER.DIS
CC:	HUMAN::SUPNIK,STONEK,PROULX
Subj:	PETER CONKLIN REMEMBRANCE

	**************************************************************
	*     THIS MESSAGE IS FROM JEAN PROULX AND BOB SUPNIK        *
	**************************************************************

	---------PLEASE GIVE THIS MESSAGE BROAD DISTRIBUTION----------

	The sudden death of Peter Conklin has left many of us saddened
	and struggling with the loss of his presence on both a 
	professional and personal basis.  His contribution to Digital
	over the past twenty-five years has been immeasurable!

	His friends and colleagues would like to honor Peter, 
	celebrate his accomplishments and share some of the happy 
	and humorous times we spent with him by holding a gathering 
	in his memory.  You are cordially invited to join us on 
	Tuesday, April 11, at 4:30 p.m. in the LKG cafeteria.  We 
	would like this to be an opportunity for you to share your 
	special memories by writing them down for inclusion in a book 
	we will give his family and/or by being present yourself and 
	talking about the times with Peter that you remember. 

	If you would like to participate, please contact Kathy Stone 
	at DELNI::STONEK.  We need a count of participants, presentors 
	and contributors to the remembrance book, so please RSVP 
	on-line soon.

  +-------------+ TM
  | | | | | | | |
  |d|i|g|i|t|a|l|          I N T E R O F F I C E   M E M O R A N D U M
  | | | | | | | |
  +-------------+
  
  
  TO:  	   			DATE:	04 APR 95
  				FROM:	Jean Proulx, Segment Manger
  				DEPT:   Network Integration Software
  				DTN:	226-5324
 				MAIL:	LKG2-2/Q9
  				ENET:	DELNI::PROULX
  
  SUBJECT:  DATE CHANGE FOR MEMORIAL FOR PETER CONKLIN


  *******************************************************************
  **       THIS MESSAGE IS FROM JEAN PROULX AND BOB SUPNIK         **
  *******************************************************************

  ----------  PLEASE GIVE THIS MESSAGE BROAD DISTRIBUTION  ----------


  Because of the overwhelming response from people who want to be
  involved in the Peter Conklin Remembrance, we need to postpone
  the April 11 date until the first week in May.  Further details
  will be forthcoming shortly.

  People are encouraged to submit interesting photos, to be used in
  a slide presentation.  Please forward photos to the attention of
  Jean Proulx at LKG2-2/Q9 by April 14.

Although I never really interfaced with Peter directly, his contributions to 
TOPS-10 in the 70's are part of why I came to Digital. His name has always 
brought to me a sense of respect and confidence. Another chapter in Digital's 
history has ended...

Jim

From:	DELNI::PROULX "13-Apr-1995 1948" 13-APR-1995 20:01:18.87
To:	@PETER.DIS
CC:	PROULX
Subj:	MAY 5 - PETER CONKLIN REMEMBRANCE


  +-------------+ TM
  | | | | | | | |
  |d|i|g|i|t|a|l|          I N T E R O F F I C E   M E M O R A N D U M
  | | | | | | | |
  +-------------+
  
  
  TO:  			   	DATE:	13 APR 95
  				FROM:	Jean Proulx, Segment Manger
  				DEPT:   Network Integration Software
  				DTN:	226-5324
 				MAIL:	LKG2-2/Q9
  				ENET:	DELNI::PROULX
  

  SUBJECT:  MAY 5 - PETER CONKLIN REMEMBRANCE


  *******************************************************************
  **       THIS MESSAGE IS FROM JEAN PROULX AND BOB SUPNIK         **
  *******************************************************************

  ----------  PLEASE GIVE THIS MESSAGE WIDE DISTRIBUTION  ----------


  The Peter Conklin Remembrance will take place on Friday, May 5, at
  2:00 p.m. in the LKG cafeteria (550 King Street/Littleton).  Many
  people have submitted written tributes and pictures which will 
  become part of a memory book to be given to his family.  We are 
  still welcoming contributions to the book which can be forwarded
  to Kathy Stone at DELNI::STONEK.

  Once again, this is an informal opportunity for people to speak and
  celebrate Peter's contribution to Digital.

    This is a proposal for the design of the Peter F. Conklin
    Conference Room in ZKO, as of May 22. The final design needs to be
    complete by June 1. 

    Comments/ suggestions/ updates should be sent to Anne Smith Duncan, 
    dtn 381-2511, or STAR::ADUNCAN by May 31.

    In particular, does this represent Peter and his contributions to
    Digital? Should something be emphasized that isn't? Should something
    be less emphasized? What's missing?

    Decorations in ZKO memorial conference rooms usually consists of a
    picture of the person, a bio that describes their contribution,
    and a picture/drawing that represents their work, e.g., a model,
    quotations, graphic representation.


    Picture: 

    The recent corporate photograph of Peter that was used in the DTJ
    and in recent publications.


    Bio: [incomplete draft, not final]

    Peter F. Conklin (1942-1995) Corporate Consulting Engineer

    Peter joined Digital in 1969 as a engineer in the DECsystem-10
    software group. He was the first software engineer to join the VAX
    project in 1975, and contributed to the VAX architecture and VMS
    Operating System. After V1 delivered, he worked in VMS Product
    Management.

    Following assignments in the Micro Systems Group and VIPS, Peter
    accepted the role of Program Manager for the Alpha software product
    development and delivery, during which the Enrollment Management
    Model was developed. This project, the largest in Digital's
    history, delivered [get specifics re number of projects, and time
    frame from his resume.] 

    He then served as Manager of the Engineering Excellence Program,
    Technical Director of the Software organization, and was Technical
    Director of the OpenVMS product family at the time of his death.

    Peter's technical contributions include 
      - [something about VMS signaling -- get details from Andy Goldstein]
      - Advocate and champion of Notes conferencing
      - [get from the promo letter from Supnik]


    "He embodied and practiced what was best in the company's
    culture: do the right thing, get to a win-win answer, bring out
    the best in people, and, above all, make things happen."



    Graphic: 

    The enrollment management model that he defined in the DTJ
    article, Vol 4, No 4, Special Issue 1992. This model represents
    the experience of Program Managing the Alpha program as well as
    Peter's management philosophy.

    A quote to go with the graphic (from the DTJ paper):
    	"Enrollment happens only when the goals are set in the
         context of the audience."

   Peter and I crossed paths many times over our 20+ year association.
   We worked together in the early days of VAX (began as the 36-bit
   UNICORN for trivia buffs) and concluded with the Alpha and
   Engineering Excellence programs. We grew to the point where in many
   ways we were kind of mentors to each others as we enjoyed helping
   each other in our individual expertise arenas. Those were
   wonderfully gratifying and fun experiences that produced indelible
   memories for me.

   Peter was first a human being and everything else in all facets of
   his life emanated from this quality. It is very fitting and
   certainly no happenstance that he named the VAX system he managed
   and that was his "pet" in many ways, HUMAN. 

   His interests and contributions outside the company were equally
   broad to those we experienced or observed inside Digital as we saw
   Peter in action.

   Where he found the time to have his fingers in so many activities,
   and so many important ones, I don't think I'll ever figure out ---
   except one always makes the time for things that one holds
   important.

   Usually the way I deal with events in my life such as this one is
   to pull out a book of poems and search for ones that fit the person
   and fit my feelings. For Peter's Remembrance, last month, I read
   two poems that I would like to place here, "It Couldn'T Be Done"
   and "The Human Touch". Little did I know that "It Couldn'T Be Done"
   was one of Peter's favorites. Donna told me after I read it.

   Peter was a special and dear friend to me. It's difficult to say
   "good-bye". I will miss him a lot.

   Farewell my friend. I love you, Peter.

   - Al

                          IT COULDN'T BE DONE

          Somebody said that it couldn't be done,
             But he with a chuckle replied
          That "maybe it couldn't," but he would be one
             Who wouldn't say 'till he'd tried.
          So he buckled right in with the trace of a grin
             On his face. If he worried he hid it.
          He started to sing as he tackled the thing
             That couldn't be done, and he did it.

          Somebody scoffed: "Oh you'll never do that!;
             At least no one ever has done it";
          But he took off his coat and he took off his hat,
             And the first we knew he'd begun it.
          With the lift of his chin and a bit of a grin,
             Without any doubting or quiddit,
          He started to sing as he tackled the thing
             That couldn't be done, and he did it.

          There are thousands to tell you it cannot be done,
             There are thousands to prophesy failure;
          There are thousands to point out to you, one by one,
             The dangers that wait to assail you.
          But just buckle in with a bit of a grin,
             Just take off your coat and go to it;
          Just start to sing as you tackle the thing
             That "cannot be done," and you'll do it.

                         Edgar A. Guest


                            THE HUMAN TOUCH

          'Tis the human touch in this world that counts,
              The touch of your hand and mine,
          Which means far more to the fainting heart
             Than shelter and bread and wine;
          For shelter is gone when the night is o'er,
             And bread lasts only a day
          But the touch of the hand and the sound of the voice
             Sing on in the soul alway.

                         Spence Michael Free

Date:	 3-OCT-1995 15:14:43.72
From:	TLE::ZEKE::HURLEY "03-Oct-1995 1322"
Subj:	PETER CONKLIN CONF ROOM DEDICATION, OCT 13

           ** PLEASE GIVE THIS MESSAGE WIDE DISTRIBUTION**

    Peter Conklin, Corporate Consulting Engineer, died in March. Peter
    made many lasting contributions to Digital, and continues to be
    missed by his many friends and colleagues.

    As a lasting remembrance of Peter and his contributions, a conference 
    room in Spit Brook (ZKO) will be dedicated to his memory and in his 
    honor.

    The dedication will be held on Friday, October 13, at 3:30 p.m.
    in ZK3-1, in the Cauchy Conference Room, soon to be the Cauchy/Conklin 
    Conference Room.  You are cordially invited to join us.  Jesse Lipcon will 
    speak briefly about Peter's contributions.  Peter's wife, Donna, will 
    also be present. 

    All friends and colleagues are invited to attend.