Peter Murray
Questionaire:
Address: 21742 C0lumbus Ave, Cupertino, CA 95014
Email address: murraype@yahoo.com
Class of: BS 1968; MS 1969
College Major: Physics
Career / Worked for: Was in the PhD program at Clarkson and drafted into the military which started a series of jobs. Ended up in the USAF at the Satellite Test Center in Sunnyvale, California (San Francisco Bay area). After 4 years went to work for a computer company involved in high end computers for classified applications. In 1982 parlayed that experience to a company involved in imagery and signal processing for the US agencies where I was a program manager. Managed a remote facility in Australia. The company was purchased by TRW and then managed programs related to satellites. In 1991 founded a company PDH Inc. which developed and maintained software systems for US agencies. In 2000 morphed the company into a dotcom company with backing from a VC group called INQTEL. After 2 years, decided to retire and was burnt out. In 2004, started teaching math at a local Community College. An academic Dean position for the Physical Sciences, Math and Engineering division opened up immediately, and they were crazy enough to hire me. While at the college for 9 years; $3M dollars in grants were awarded, managed a $50M science center construction and created the Science Learning Institute.
Most Interesting Job: Being a father has been some of my most memorable experiences. As far as work, since I couldn’t seem to keep a job…. While working on the government projects was the development of a multisource workstation because of the technologies involved and the information. At the startup company, was meeting with VCs and developing a company from the ground up. The most satisfying job was being an academic Dean meeting with students, many of them underrepresented, and working on efforts to enhance the educational system. Bill Gates visited the math program we developed.
Spouse: Jill, went to Potsdam State and married 52 years
Met spouse at: The R in Potsdam. She was a freshman and I was a sophomore.
Kids: My son is a full professor of Genetics and Molecular Biology at the University of Newcastle in England. He has a daughter.
My daughter is an artist and a therapist at a hospital in Portland, Oregon. She has two boys.
Pets: None now but had 2 Labradors which reminded us of Satan.
Retired Spend Time/Hobbies: Spend 1/3 of our time in our place at Lake Tahoe skiing, paddle boarding, kayaking, hiking and cycling. The remaining time, traveling and cycling in good weather. We love gardening and doing things together.
Where lived: Long Island and Potsdam NY. Then San Francisco Bay area and Lake Tahoe.
Most interesting place visited: New Zealand, both Islands.
Greatest accomplishment since graduation: Being a father and husband. Once I retired the 2nd time, the rest doesn’t matter.
One thing you know now that you wish you knew in college: It is great to have plans but events in your life make them irrelevant. Getting hands on experience is what makes a difference. Just set high expectations.
Favorite Triangle or College Memory: The parties, hockey, chubby cook, Satan and friendships.
News that stands out: Assassinations of Senator Robert Kennedy and Martin Luther King. On the geek side, Launch of Apollo 7, the first manned mission.
Friends anxious to see: Thank Bill Birkhoff for posting a picture with him, Jill and me at a party. Would love to see the brothers that were in our various weddings as well as the others that I spent so much time with. We will be in the UK in April, 2022.
Health issues: Getting old, otherwise doing ok.
Peter and Jill
