Tech Innovator And Master Of Maps Dies At 80
by Adam Ragusea
National Public Radio – February 13, 2014
Roger Tomlinson, the man widely regarded as the father of GIS — Geographic Information Systems — has died at age 80. Tomlinson’s 1960s innovation, using computer software to overlay different types of maps on top of one another, revolutionized industry and government.
http://www.npr.org/2014/02/13/276522411/tech-innovator-and-master-of-maps-dies-at-80?sc=17&f=
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Sad news this week:
http://www.gislounge.com/roger-tomlinson-father-gis-died/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roger_Tomlinson
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Yes, Roger Tomlinson lived a long life full of enormous positive influence on people and the planet, most definitely.
I was just speculating this morning with my colleague here, “what would we be doing now if Roger hadn’t blazed the trail?”
I posted a few of my favorite photos of Roger here:
https://plus.google.com/photos/117840654721911970316/albums/5979273049809522577?banner=pwa
A few fond memories I have of him:
1. Having 30 whole minutes talking with just him and his wife Lila while I was teaching with AAG’s MyCOE project in Tunisia.
2. In the above photo collage, you will see him laughing and talking with the students at the SAG awards at the Esri UC last summer. I loved seeing them interacting each year.
3. I remember being so nervous about asking him if he would write the Foreword to my International GIS in Secondary Education book, and then figured, “he can always tell me to take a hike” – well – of course he ended up gladly writing it. That was just the kind of person he was – never too busy to support what people were doing in the field that he began!
Joseph Kerski
Joseph J. Kerski, Ph.D.| Education Manager
Esri | 1 International Court | Broomfield CO 80021-3200 | USA
Tel 303-449-7779, ext. 1-8237 | Cell-Mobile 303-625-3925
jkerski@esri.com | esri.com
Twitter: @josephkerski
(Feb. 11, 13)