



1935
-
2023

Accompanied by his favorite Beethoven’s symphony, Bob died at 7:15pm on Tuesday, August 15th, 2023. With a dual
diagnosis of Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s diseases, his health had been declining for many years. His was a long illness,
borne with paIence, day by day, breath by breath.
Bob was born in 1935 in Rome, New York, as the eldest son of Julius and Anne Morse. The family relocated to
Brooklyn, New York, as Per the birth of his sister, Linda, in 1942. Bob’s propensity for mathematics was evident even
during his high school years in the math club—but his real claim to fame was his classmate, Woody Allen. Bob
received a BS in Physics from the Polytechnic InstItute of Brooklyn in 1957 and an MS in Physics in 1958 from the
University of Wisconsin. He describes his work in the scientific/computer environment as producing computer
software that interfaces smoothly with people and an apparatus to provide useful support facilities. He specialized
in real-Ime and interactive programming, instrument operaIng systems and traditional user support functions,
debugging aids, simulaIons and emulatons.
Bob was drafted by the US Army Chemical Center, Maryland (Dec 1959 to Feb 1962) to program their first computers.
Next, he spent two years supporting the development of the BMD statistical program at UCLA Health Science
Computing Facility. Moving to Utah, he worked for Kennecott Copper Corporation. Then, he began work as a graduate
student at the University of Utah (1968-74) in physics and computer science (M.Phil. [Physics] in 1976). Working for
the University of Utah Chemistry Department and the Flammability Center, his skills continued to develop and change
as computers, equipment and software evolved.
On July 26th, 1980 at Snowbird, Utah, he married graduate student, Janice Hambleton Pearson and gained a new
family with children Nicola Pearson and Murray Pearson. In Dec 1981 they emigrated to Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.
There Bob served as Programmer/Analyst at the University of Alberta Applied Sciences of Medicine and the Cross
Cancer InstItute, for 10 years. Then, he and Jan relocated to the Pennsylvania State University. Bob was appointed as
Research Associate at the PSU Department of mathematics, where he remained until his retirement in 2006.
So much for his work life. But what about the Bob we know and loved? Bob’s health had been declining for several years and in 2007, his final move was to Salt Lake City, home amongst the
Utah mountains and old friends, with his boundaries gradually shrinking.
Despite perfection, there were
Things he did not do:
‘Farming’ (gardening)
Pay for parking
Watch the news
File stuff; discard anything; finish anything Things he tolerated:
Shopping
Moving
Things at which he excelled:
Crosswords, puzzles of all types, Rubik’s cube
mathematics, computing, all things science-ish
Loved his laptop, books, & music
A proficient flutist, and a sometimes skier
visiting family in Staten Island & New Zealand
Theatre, movies, eating out
Driving the kids from gigs in the middle of the night
Laughing, joking, talking, winning at Scrabble
Knowing things; knowing everything
Supporting Jan, hugging As you remember Bob, add to this list—
He had a brilliant mind, a tremendous sense of humor, and was deeply loved by all.
His Doggie Woggy is looking for him.