Where I come from
I don't often talk about the folks that shaped my life. I can't really state why. I think its because in my mind, I'm a strange sort of shadow cast by the people that influenced me. I have my accomplishments but for the most part they are just a reflection of those that "made" me. And to me they are very
small compared to those that were my influences. Also, a part of me thinks that when you totally understand something that it doesn't need to be expounded upon. I thought I was pretty much an open book and therefore already understood.
Once you understand where a person comes from you can more easily understand where the might be headed. Understanding me isn't something that I promote. There are much better things to do with your time. But as I think now, maybe its because I don't really know where I'm going and that is a both
exciting and frightening at the same time. So by writing things down, I do better understand myself and perhaps I'll get a better idea of where I'm going.
Mr. Alton P. ("Pete") Jensen, Professor Emeritus of Georgia Tech's College of Computing, died peacefully at home on Sunday, February 6, 2005, at age 79. You can find a link to the press release
here.
This link might not be permanent so I don't know if it will work later. Images of him can be found here.
On November 17th, 2005, there was a tribute to Pete that was held in the Technology Square Research Bldg on 5th Street. I attended. It was a nice ceremony. Very much a celebration of his life. He had an impressive array of speakers including John P. Imlay Jr, Richard DeMillo, Jesse H. Poore, Lucio
Chiaravigilo, Ray Miller, Rich LeBlanc, Phil Enslow, John Gehl and Peter Freeman, Barry James Folsom and John Gehl. Newt Gingrich couldn't be there but tapes a very moving segment that was aired in his absence. If you don't know who those folks are then that is fine. They are the movers and shakers in the
academic IT world and are all centered around GA Tech which was the center of
Pete's life. Except for Newt. He was just a hanger on :-)
Pete is the guy responsible for "V". Deanna Barnes was responsible for the "letter". But Pete is responsible for the myth. Now its not his fault all by his lonesome. He had a lot of help you see. Mythologies like "V" are more than just one person. They are the collective efforts of tons of people. But there has to be someone that actually sparks the fire that starts the blaze. The catalyst. That was Pete. Yeah, and yet you never heard me speak of him before. Don't worry, the best stories are always like that. Bear with me, I'll get back to Pete in a bit.
( Skip this unless you want to read about me waxing sentimental about family )
Now some say that friends are the family that we choose for ourselves. Strangely enough, it is sometimes the other way around. The folks that choose us become our friends and then family. There are bunch of folks in that category for me. But the most influential ones are few.
( Skip this unless you want to read about me waxing sentimental about a few of my mentors )
( And then there was Pete )
I miss you Pete. You set me on my path and trusted me to figure out how to get there. You nudged and guided but never forced. And you offered a friendly voice and an engineer's mind to any problem I had. I wish I had spent more time with you in the last few years to see if I could glean any more knowledge from
you. Or just spend more time sitting on your back porch and enjoy your wonderful companionship. There wasn't a worry in the world when I was there.
In truth, I just wish I had a chance to tell you that I finally have have the answer to the first question you ever asked me. After all this time, I think I finally get it.
"What are you up to Vernard?"
"Learning."
small compared to those that were my influences. Also, a part of me thinks that when you totally understand something that it doesn't need to be expounded upon. I thought I was pretty much an open book and therefore already understood.
Once you understand where a person comes from you can more easily understand where the might be headed. Understanding me isn't something that I promote. There are much better things to do with your time. But as I think now, maybe its because I don't really know where I'm going and that is a both
exciting and frightening at the same time. So by writing things down, I do better understand myself and perhaps I'll get a better idea of where I'm going.
Mr. Alton P. ("Pete") Jensen, Professor Emeritus of Georgia Tech's College of Computing, died peacefully at home on Sunday, February 6, 2005, at age 79. You can find a link to the press release
here.
This link might not be permanent so I don't know if it will work later. Images of him can be found here.
On November 17th, 2005, there was a tribute to Pete that was held in the Technology Square Research Bldg on 5th Street. I attended. It was a nice ceremony. Very much a celebration of his life. He had an impressive array of speakers including John P. Imlay Jr, Richard DeMillo, Jesse H. Poore, Lucio
Chiaravigilo, Ray Miller, Rich LeBlanc, Phil Enslow, John Gehl and Peter Freeman, Barry James Folsom and John Gehl. Newt Gingrich couldn't be there but tapes a very moving segment that was aired in his absence. If you don't know who those folks are then that is fine. They are the movers and shakers in the
academic IT world and are all centered around GA Tech which was the center of
Pete's life. Except for Newt. He was just a hanger on :-)
Pete is the guy responsible for "V". Deanna Barnes was responsible for the "letter". But Pete is responsible for the myth. Now its not his fault all by his lonesome. He had a lot of help you see. Mythologies like "V" are more than just one person. They are the collective efforts of tons of people. But there has to be someone that actually sparks the fire that starts the blaze. The catalyst. That was Pete. Yeah, and yet you never heard me speak of him before. Don't worry, the best stories are always like that. Bear with me, I'll get back to Pete in a bit.
( Skip this unless you want to read about me waxing sentimental about family )
Now some say that friends are the family that we choose for ourselves. Strangely enough, it is sometimes the other way around. The folks that choose us become our friends and then family. There are bunch of folks in that category for me. But the most influential ones are few.
( Skip this unless you want to read about me waxing sentimental about a few of my mentors )
( And then there was Pete )
I miss you Pete. You set me on my path and trusted me to figure out how to get there. You nudged and guided but never forced. And you offered a friendly voice and an engineer's mind to any problem I had. I wish I had spent more time with you in the last few years to see if I could glean any more knowledge from
you. Or just spend more time sitting on your back porch and enjoy your wonderful companionship. There wasn't a worry in the world when I was there.
In truth, I just wish I had a chance to tell you that I finally have have the answer to the first question you ever asked me. After all this time, I think I finally get it.
"What are you up to Vernard?"
"Learning."