Tuesday, March 29, 2011
Hello, Jane, and all of Ron's friends.
I am of course surprised and saddened to hear that Ron has gone. He was an incredibly important mentor for me. Like other young engineers at MIT who came to work for him. It would be fair to say that Ron helped me find a direction in my life at a time when I had dropped out of school, and had no idea what I wanted to be when I grew up. I've had a successful, 33-year career as a software engineer because Ron saw something in me, and offered a part-time position to me as a programmer just when I needed it.
He was challenging, compassionate and lighthearted, all at the same time. I would say that the best of my managerial skills got developed by watching him.
I've thought of Ron and Jane occasionally over the years, and feel sad that we didn't stay in contact. However, he lives on in my heart, as the vibrant, demanding, sharp, hilarious guy who made the MIT Registrar's office a haven of sanity for me, in a world far from home.
Love,
Tom Childers
Fairfax, California
tdc@alum.mit.edu
