February 8, 1933 – October 30, 2018
Resident of Portola Valley
Norman Hardy, was born in Pomona, California in 1933, but was more truly a native of the Silicon Valley computer lab, even before Silicon Valley was a place.
He first heard about computers in 1947 when he read an article about one being installed at UCLA. The article had just enough information about what a computer was that he was able to hand-write a program. He got on a bus the next day to go see about how to run it. His enthusiasm never waned.
Since computer science was not yet a discipline, he studied math and physics at UC Berkeley. He graduated in 1955 with a BS in Math and went immediately to work at Lawrence Radiation Labs in Livermore, which later became known as Lawrence Livermore National Labs. Whether it was inventing a new way to solve two-dimensional fluid equations, inventing a breakthrough computer plotting method, establishing a file & time-sharing system among the lab’s computers, or teaching a 1950’s era computer to play one of Bach’s violin sonatas, he became an indispensable and endlessly creative member of the lab’s Theoretical Division.
While traveling on Lab business to New York to help IBM build the 7030, (also known as the Stretch) he met his future wife Ann. A brilliant programmer in her own right, and already a manager of one of IBM’s programming divisions, he immediately appreciated her skill and uninhibited intelligence.
Norm held more than one computer software patent, but his most significant contribution was his invention of the KeyKOS Operating System (originally called the Great New Operating System in the Sky GNOSIS) while at Tymshare in Cupertino. A capabilities-based operating system, it provided a substantially more secure computing environment than existing systems.
Norm and Ann divorced in 1978, but remained good friends. In 1985 Norm and Ann left Tymshare with several co-workers to start Key Logic in hopes of better marketing the KeyKOS operating system. In 1994 Ann started Agorics with a group from Xanadu, Norm and others. Throughout his life he enjoyed consulting with a wide variety of Silicon Valley start-ups on complex computer security issues.
Norm is most dearly remembered as a mentor, friend and father. Known widely for his remarkable achievements, he was known in closer circles as someone who always had the time to talk through a complicated problem. He would give as much attention and respect to a co-worker addressing a complex encryption conundrum as he would give his teenage daughters in trying to work through their algebra homework. He was always patient and kind, and in most cases the conversation would conclude with the other person gently comprehending how Norm had been right all along. He mentored and encouraged dozens of young programmers. He was endlessly curious, and gave the highest praise to those who could present him with a perspective that he hadn’t considered before. His website www.cap-lore.comrecords many of his favorite ideas. His oral history at the Computer History Museum in Mountain View records a more detailed account of early computing.
A true scientist, he sought to know how the world actually worked. He saw beauty in complex math, physics, Escher and Bach. In his small hermitage in Portola Valley he had a pipe organ – with over 100 actual pipes! – on which he played his favorite classical music. Evenings brought one of his favorite activities: friends over for apple pie and conversation. In the summers the sliding glass door would stand wide open, letting in the smell of the bay trees, the sound of crickets, and the music of the little creek out back.
He was born to Alfa and Clyde Hardy, and grew up with an older sister, Martha (1926-1999). He is survived by his dear friend and ex-wife Ann Hardy, and their two daughters Pamela and Jennifer, and his grandson, Quinn Mazurek. He was curious and engaged with the world until the day he died on October 30, 2018. He was surrounded by family and friends.