In Memoriam

Tom Gannon, a teaching professor in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering known for his love for teaching, respect for others, and interminable good humor, passed away on Nov. 6, 2022.

Tom had over 50 years of experience in enterprise systems engineering, real-time control systems, and information management systems. He started at WPI as an adjunct teaching professor in 1983 while also working in industry as the director of information systems engineering and chief engineer for the Technology and Innovation Directorate of the Command and Control Center at the MITRE Corporation, where he was responsible for the formation and management of technology strategy, investment plans, and science and technology programs. Previously, he served as director of the Corporate Technology Transfer Office at MITRE and held senior engineering management positions at Digital Equipment Corporation (DEC) and Bell Laboratories.

He also served as a member of the technical advisory boards and boards of directors of several research consortia, including the Microelectronics and Computer Consortium, the Microelectronics Center of North Carolina, SEMATECH (Semiconductor Manufacturing Technology), and the Semiconductor Research Corporation, and also as a member of the National Academy of Sciences Committee on International Trends in Computer Science and Technology. While at DEC, he also served as chairman of the Technology Policy Committee of CSPP, a public policy forum established by the U.S. computer industry, and was responsible for directing the development of public policy positions on strategic technology issues that affected the global competitiveness of the U.S. computer industry.

He published many papers in systems engineering and systems thinking, becoming a world-renowned expert in these fields. He also (in collaboration with his colleague Jamie Monat) published a book titled Using Systems Thinking to Solve Real-World Problems. He was often called upon to deliver lectures, host discussion panels, and lead symposia and podcasts in these fields.

He held a PhD in electrical engineering and computer science from Stevens Institute of Technology, as well as an MS from Purdue University and a BS from the Illinois Institute of Technology, both in electrical engineering.

Tom was instrumental in founding the new systems engineering program at WPI, and joyfully contributed to the success of its many students and alumni.

—Jamie Monat

Paul Kokulis ’45 CHE, THETA CHI, Potomac, Md.

Joseph Morgan ’51 ME, ALPHA TAU OMEGA, Bedford, Mass.

Alden Tucker ’52 EE, SIGMA PHI EPSILON, Gladwyne, Pa.

Richard DeLuca ’55 EE, PHI KAPPA THETA, Plaistow, N.H.

Philip Bedard ’56 EE, THETA CHI, Helotes, Texas

Allan Hunderup ’56 EE, SIGMA ALPHA EPSILON, Rochester, N.Y.

Donald Rising ’57 ME, SIGMA PHI EPSILON, Stow, Mass.

Raymond Abraham ’60 EE, SIGMA ALPHA EPSILON, Cape Coral, Fla.

Raymond Levesque ’60 CHE, ALPHA TAU OMEGA, Bel Air, Md.

Thomas Lopresti ’61, PHI KAPPA THETA, Columbus, N.J.

Donald Diamond ’62 EE, ALPHA EPSILON PI, Sarasota, Fla.

John Peterson ’62 MS NS, Worcester, Mass.

Richard Allen ’63 CHE, SIGMA PHI EPSILON, Huntsville, Ala.

Lawrence McGrail ’64 MS NS, Grafton, Mass.

John O’Keefe ’64 MA, ALPHA TAU OMEGA, Tilghman, Md.

H. Altenburg ’65 ME, PHI GAMMA DELTA, Tamaqua, Pa.

Raymond Brodeur ’65 EE, SIGMA ALPHA EPSILON, Bethlehem, Pa.

Charles Foley ’66 MS NS, Dedham, Mass.

Robert Joy ’66 MS NS, Vernon, Conn.

Malcolm White ’66 CHE, TAU KAPPA EPSILON, Rockport, Maine

Richard Graham ’67 CE, SIGMA ALPHA EPSILON, Somerville, Mass.

Ronaldn Mucci ’67 EE, THETA CHI, Tiverton, R.I.

Dwight Dickerman ’70 CHE, PHI SIGMA KAPPA, East Amherst, N.Y.

Robert Pape ’70 SIM, Shrewsbury, Mass.

Mark Whitley ’73 CHE, Keller, Texas

Marc Langlois ’76 ME, MS MSE, Old Lyme, Conn.

Stephen Bednarz ’83 ME, ALPHA TAU OMEGA, Hobe Sound, Fla.

Barbara Haller ’83 EE, Southbridge, Mass.

David Mankevetch ’93 SIM, Millbury, Mass.

Edward Doyle ’93 MBA, Buzzards Bay, Mass.

Benton Cassie ’09 CE, Hopkinton, Mass.

The WPI community also notes the passing of these friends of the university: Mary-Ellen Boyle, John Durkin, Suzanne Keene, and Paul Kennedy.

Complete obituaries can usually be found online by searching legacy.com or newspaper websites. The Alumni Office will assist classmates in locating additional information. Contact alumni-office@wpi.edu.