John R. Pasta, 1918-1981-An Unusual Path Toward Computer Science

The following eloge of John R. Pasta should remind readers that he died before recording his recollections and interpretations of his personal experiences as a contributor to the early development of computing. Sadly, what he might-have told us of what he thought when he did it is now lost forever. We will never have his firsthand account to help us learn how to do great things ourselves. I hope potential authors of reminiscences, memoirs, and autobiographies will act now to avoid further losses.