Tom West
Joseph Thomas West III | |
|---|---|
| Born | Template:Birth date |
| Died | May 19, 2011 (aged 71) |
| Occupation(s) | Technologist, computer engineer |
| Years active | 1960s–1998 |
| Known for | Key figure in the Pulitzer Prize-winning book The Soul of a New Machine; leader of the Eclipse team at Data General |
Joseph Thomas West III (November 22, 1939 – May 19, 2011) was a prominent American technologist, recognized as the key individual featured in the Pulitzer Prize-winning nonfiction work The Soul of a New Machine.
Career
West launched his career in computer design at RCA following a seven-year tenure at the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory, which he joined immediately after completing college. In 1974, he became part of Data General, where he eventually led the Eclipse team and managed the Eagle project responsible for creating the Eclipse MV/8000. After the acclaim of Soul of a New Machine, Data General assigned him to Japan to contribute to the development of the DG-1, the company’s inaugural full-screen laptop. His last endeavor before retiring in 1998 involved designing a slim web server intended for internet compatibility. West concluded his career as Chief Technologist in 1998.
Personal life
In 1965, West married Elizabeth (Cohon) West; their marriage ended in divorce in 1994. They had two daughters: Katherine West and librarian Jessamyn West. He wed Cindy Woodward, his former assistant at Data General, in 2001; this marriage also ended in divorce in 2011. West passed away at age 71 due to an apparent heart attack at his residence in Westport, Massachusetts. His nephew, Christopher Schwarz, who served as editor of Popular Woodworking magazine and co-founded Lost Art Press, departed from the magazine after West’s death to focus on independent ventures.
Further reading
- A 1996 interview featuring West.
- A corporate announcement video from a decade after the events depicted in The Soul of a New Machine, showcasing West’s appearance related to the MV/9500 (6:00–14:30).