First CS Department Chair Dies

The CS Department is sorry to announce that Dr. Norman Sondak, the first WPI Professor of Computer Science, died recently (November 2009) in San Diego after a heart attack. He was 78.

Dr Sondak chaired the CS department, with Ray Scott, Mary Hardell and Steve Alpert as the key CS faculty members, until leaving in 1978. He then had a long career at the San Diego State University, retiring in 2005.

He hired Bob Kinicki in early 1978, and was a faculty member here when Matt Ward was a student.

A more detailed description of his life can be found in the news story Computer-science pioneer enjoyed teaching, writing.

Additional historical information can be found at WPI Hackers of the '70's and at the CS department's History webpage