Of Tim and Lydia
This short rememberance will not impact your view of the world, nor has it any serious import. I just felt I'd like to share a triviality that, perhaps, shows a slice of Monte's good nature and sense of humor.
At the 29th Annual AEA Convention (Toronto, 1986) I had been asked to make a presentation on the use of CAD systems in avionics. (Wow, using an Apple IIe, can you believe that??).
Not used to public speaking then, I was very nervous the day before. When I confessed my trepidation to Monte he was very supportive and encouraging.
"Tim, don't worry, you'll do fine" he said. Naturally, always busy around AEA convention times, he obviously had to remember a lot of faces and names - tough duty in the best of circumstances. So, I didn't bother to remind him that my name is Tom, not Tim.
But it got a little worse that evening. I introduced my (then [further details omitted :-) :-)] ) wife Linda and, as usual, Monte was polite and cordial as ever. But he insisted on calling her "Lydia". Again, I chose not to correct him.
Well, after my next day's presentation (along with Jim Cook and Paul DeHerrera), while feeling a great rush of relief that it was over, I bumped into Monte again. With newfound bravado, I accosted him: "It's Tom and Linda, not Tim and Lydia." From then on, throughout the convention and years after, Monte always talked about Tim and Lydia. He'd successfully turned a very minor faux pas into an ongoing good natured, humor full, delight. Such was the man as I remember him. May he rest in peace, awaiting perhaps, another encounter with his friend "Tim".
Tom Storli