In Memoriam: Dr. Jon Postel

IN MEMORIAM

Dr. Jonathan B. Postel

August 3, 1943 - October 16, 1998

Executive Director and Founder, Internet Assigned Numbers Authority

Director, Computer Networks Division, Information Sciences Institute

RFC Editor; Trustee, Internet Society

Internet Networking Pioneer and Visionary

A memorial for Dr. Postel was held on November 5, 1998 at 11 a.m. in the Bovard Auditorium of the University of Southern California. The memorial service was webcast by USC.

Eulogy by Vint Cerf: I Remember IANA - RFC 2468

Eulogy by Daniel Farber: A Life Too Brief

Eulogy by Paul Vixie: Requiem for Jon Postel

Boardwatch (12-98) Jon Postel Streamlines the Afterlife
Wired (11-5-98) A Wizard Rests in Peace

Inter@ctive Week (10-26) Jon Postel: Internet Architect and Caretaker

New York Times (10-18-98): Jon Postel, Who Helped Create the Internet, is Dead at 55

Washington Post (10-18): Jon Postel, Internet Pioneer, Dies at 55 after Heart Surgery

Los Angeles Times (10-18) : Jon Postel, Influential Internet Pioneer, Dies

Wired (10-18-98) Net Mourns Passing of Giant

San Jose Mercury News (10-18) : Internet Founding Father Dies

C/Net (10-19): IANA Chief Jon Postel Dies

USC News Service (10-19): Internet Pioneer Jon Postel Dies at 55

Internet Week and TechWeb (10-19): Head of Internet Domain-Names Group Dies

Internet News (10-27): Postel Memorial Webcast Set for Nov. 5

C/Net (11-5): Postel Eulogized as Humble Genius

Photo by Peter Lothberg

Lifetime Achievement - 1997

Dvorak Telecommunications Award

ITU Silver Medal

SIGCOMM Award

Dr. Jon Postel was the Director of ISI's Computer Networks Division, based in Marina del Rey, California. He also held leadership positions in several Internet infrastructure activities. He was founder and head of the Internet Assigned Numbers Authority, RFC Editor, and chief administrator of the .US domain. He was expected to play a crucial role in the future of Internet administration, which is in the process of being transferred to the private sector.

He earned his B.S. and M.S. degrees in Engineering, and his Ph.D. in Computer Science in 1966, 1968, and 1974, respectively, all from UCLA.

At UCLA, he was involved in the beginnings of ARPANET and the development of the Network Measurement Center. He began working at USC's Information Sciences Institute in 1977.
Postel died of complications on October 16, 1998 following emergency surgery to fix a heart replacement valve, which had begun to leak.

TRIBUTES FROM THE LISTSERV

reprinted with permission

Jon Postel's passing is a loss of extraordinary proportions. His vision of a world drawn together through a vast common communications network has become a reality, and his genius and leadership were the key to its realization. Jon's legacy is a proud one, but his work remains unfinished. His star, which shone so brightly while he was among us, now hangs like a beacon on the horizon. . . . We have lost the visionary, but we can not lose the vision.

-- Ken Stubbs, Chair, Executive Committee, Internet Council of Registrars

I am glad that he finished his last project. Perhaps it will help institutionalize his legacy. He was the touchstone, the permanence against which all the philosophizing, faction, and rancor in the domain name fights had to be reconciled. He has been criticized as a 'king', but he didn't inherit his position and respect, he earned it. Just maybe his passing will give pause and sober for a moment the drunk ambition that we've begun to perceive as normal.

-- Antony Van Couvering, Name Engine

Jon Postel is an important historical figure in the development of the Internet. His work over the past decades played a significant part

in the worldwide growth and development of the Internet as we know it today. Network Solutions is proud to have worked with Dr. Postel, and will move forward into the 21st century drawing from his lasting contributions and continuing legacy for all the Internet community.

-- Gabe Battista, CEO, Network Solutions, Inc.

Dr. Postel added colour and flare to a community that frequently needed a little humour or sensability. DNS debates and strategies aside, Dr. Postel will be greatly missed for the excitement and knowledge and personal opinion he brought to our vastly growing community. There will be no person who can stand in Dr. Postel's place in the now or the forever more. It is with tremendous sadness we receive this news.

-- Adam Todd, Director, AH Net

REFLECTIONS ON JON

Gabe Battista, NSI

Vint Cerf, MCI

David Farber, U Penn

Harold Feld , DNRC

Ira Magaziner, USG

Herbert Schorr, ISI

Ken Stubbs, CORE

Adam Todd, AURSC

Antony Van Couvering

Paul Vixie, BIND

CONDOLENCES and REMEMBRANCES

Internet Society Memorial Tributes

Photo Collage on IANA Homepage

Jonathan B. Postel Endowed Chair Jonathan B. Postel Service Award

He really was the most powerful person on the Net -- absolutely. He came by that power legitimately, as the only person who could command the respect and loyalty of the whole community.

-- David Farber, Professor of Telecommunications, University of Pennsylvania

While it seems almost impossible to avoid feeling an enormous sense of loss, as if yawning gap in our networked universe had opened up and swallowed our friend, I must tell you that I am comforted as I contemplate what Jon has wrought.

-- Vint Cerf, Senior VP of Internet Architecture , MCI Worldcom

Photo by Chris Pizzello

Jon was the real thing, a true giant. . . He had everyone's trust and confidence. They knew what he was doing was essentially right.

-- Herbert Schorr, Executive Director, ISI

Humanity lost a defender today. Against the squalid backdrop of human nature one man tested his mettle against the forces of chaos and entropy,without regard for his own personal safety, and gave our civilization some extra time to get itself organized before advancing along the track of history.

-- Paul Vixie, creator, Berkeley Internet Name Domain

It was Jon and his colleagues who helped create a revolution that will change mankind.

-- Ira Magaziner, Senior Advisor to the President on Policy Development

The greatest achievement of Jon Postel is that he created a stable system capable of surviving him. Today, the Internet is still working. I can surf the Web, send email, register a domain name, or perform any other critical function. Dr. Postel passes away, the Internet survives. There can be no greater tribute. As long as the Internet stands, it will remain a monument to his life's work.

-- Harold Feld, General Counsel, Domain Name Rights Coalition

The news of Jon Postel's passing has been a shock to all of us in Argentina. It is a

loss to the Internet worldwide community which will be irreplaceable. . . . Perhaps a fitting tribute to his memory (and tireless endeavours), would be for the Internet stakeholders worldwide to work closely, ironing out discrepancies and bringing the new corporation to a successful and satisfactory initiation. . . .Jon Postel deserves no less.

--Tony Harris, Secretary, CABASE

Contents | Special Features | DNS News | Glossary | Opinions | Order | Acknowledgments

The Domain Name Handbook: High Stakes and Strategies in Cyberspace
Copyright© 1998 Ellen Rony and Peter Rony. All Rights Reserved

Website created and maintained by Ellen Rony - Alexander Works, Tiburon, CA

Hostedouth Boston, VA

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A memorial for Dr. Postel was held on November 5, 1998 at 11 a.m. in the Bovard Auditorium of the University of Southern California. The memorial service was webcast by USC. Eulogy by Vint Cerf: I Remember IANA - RFC 2468 Eulogy by Daniel Farber: A Life Too Brief Eulogy by Paul Vixie: Requiem for Jon Postel Boardwatch (12-98) Jon Postel Streamlines the Afterlife Wired (11-5-98) A Wizard Rests in Peace Inter@ctive Week (10-26) Jon Postel: Internet Architect and Caretaker New York Times (10-18-98): Jon Postel, Who Helped Create the Internet, is Dead at 55 Washington Post (10-18): Jon Postel, Internet Pioneer, Dies at 55 after Heart Surgery Los Angeles Times (10-18) : Jon Postel, Influential Internet Pioneer, Dies Wired (10-18-98) Net Mourns Passing of Giant San Jose Mercury News (10-18) : Internet Founding Father Dies C/Net (10-19): IANA Chief Jon Postel Dies USC News Service (10-19): Internet Pioneer Jon Postel Dies at 55 Internet Week and TechWeb (10-19): Head of Internet Domain-Names Group Dies Internet News (10-27): Postel Memorial Webcast Set for Nov. 5 C/Net (11-5): Postel Eulogized as Humble Genius		Photo by Peter Lothberg
Lifetime Achievement - 1997 Dvorak Telecommunications Award	ITU Silver Medal SIGCOMM Award	Dr. Jon Postel was the Director of ISI's Computer Networks Division, based in Marina del Rey, California. He also held leadership positions in several Internet infrastructure activities. He was founder and head of the Internet Assigned Numbers Authority, RFC Editor, and chief administrator of the .US domain. He was expected to play a crucial role in the future of Internet administration, which is in the process of being transferred to the private sector. He earned his B.S. and M.S. degrees in Engineering, and his Ph.D. in Computer Science in 1966, 1968, and 1974, respectively, all from UCLA. At UCLA, he was involved in the beginnings of ARPANET and the development of the Network Measurement Center. He began working at USC's Information Sciences Institute in 1977. Postel died of complications on October 16, 1998 following emergency surgery to fix a heart replacement valve, which had begun to leak. TRIBUTES FROM THE LISTSERV reprinted with permission Jon Postel's passing is a loss of extraordinary proportions. His vision of a world drawn together through a vast common communications network has become a reality, and his genius and leadership were the key to its realization. Jon's legacy is a proud one, but his work remains unfinished. His star, which shone so brightly while he was among us, now hangs like a beacon on the horizon. . . . We have lost the visionary, but we can not lose the vision. -- Ken Stubbs, Chair, Executive Committee, Internet Council of Registrars I am glad that he finished his last project. Perhaps it will help institutionalize his legacy. He was the touchstone, the permanence against which all the philosophizing, faction, and rancor in the domain name fights had to be reconciled. He has been criticized as a 'king', but he didn't inherit his position and respect, he earned it. Just maybe his passing will give pause and sober for a moment the drunk ambition that we've begun to perceive as normal. -- Antony Van Couvering, Name Engine Jon Postel is an important historical figure in the development of the Internet. His work over the past decades played a significant part in the worldwide growth and development of the Internet as we know it today. Network Solutions is proud to have worked with Dr. Postel, and will move forward into the 21st century drawing from his lasting contributions and continuing legacy for all the Internet community. -- Gabe Battista, CEO, Network Solutions, Inc. Dr. Postel added colour and flare to a community that frequently needed a little humour or sensability. DNS debates and strategies aside, Dr. Postel will be greatly missed for the excitement and knowledge and personal opinion he brought to our vastly growing community. There will be no person who can stand in Dr. Postel's place in the now or the forever more. It is with tremendous sadness we receive this news. -- Adam Todd, Director, AH Net
REFLECTIONS ON JON Gabe Battista, NSI Vint Cerf, MCI David Farber, U Penn Harold Feld , DNRC Ira Magaziner, USG Herbert Schorr, ISI Ken Stubbs, CORE Adam Todd, AURSC Antony Van Couvering Paul Vixie, BIND CONDOLENCES and REMEMBRANCES Internet Society Memorial Tributes Photo Collage on IANA Homepage Jonathan B. Postel Endowed Chair Jonathan B. Postel Service Award He really was the most powerful person on the Net -- absolutely. He came by that power legitimately, as the only person who could command the respect and loyalty of the whole community. -- David Farber, Professor of Telecommunications, University of Pennsylvania While it seems almost impossible to avoid feeling an enormous sense of loss, as if yawning gap in our networked universe had opened up and swallowed our friend, I must tell you that I am comforted as I contemplate what Jon has wrought. -- Vint Cerf, Senior VP of Internet Architecture , MCI Worldcom	Photo by Chris Pizzello Jon was the real thing, a true giant. . . He had everyone's trust and confidence. They knew what he was doing was essentially right. -- Herbert Schorr, Executive Director, ISI Humanity lost a defender today. Against the squalid backdrop of human nature one man tested his mettle against the forces of chaos and entropy,without regard for his own personal safety, and gave our civilization some extra time to get itself organized before advancing along the track of history. -- Paul Vixie, creator, Berkeley Internet Name Domain
It was Jon and his colleagues who helped create a revolution that will change mankind. -- Ira Magaziner, Senior Advisor to the President on Policy Development The greatest achievement of Jon Postel is that he created a stable system capable of surviving him. Today, the Internet is still working. I can surf the Web, send email, register a domain name, or perform any other critical function. Dr. Postel passes away, the Internet survives. There can be no greater tribute. As long as the Internet stands, it will remain a monument to his life's work. -- Harold Feld, General Counsel, Domain Name Rights Coalition The news of Jon Postel's passing has been a shock to all of us in Argentina. It is a loss to the Internet worldwide community which will be irreplaceable. . . . Perhaps a fitting tribute to his memory (and tireless endeavours), would be for the Internet stakeholders worldwide to work closely, ironing out discrepancies and bringing the new corporation to a successful and satisfactory initiation. . . .Jon Postel deserves no less. --Tony Harris, Secretary, CABASE
Contents \| Special Features \| DNS News \| Glossary \| Opinions \| Order \| Acknowledgments The Domain Name Handbook: High Stakes and Strategies in Cyberspace Copyright© 1998 Ellen Rony and Peter Rony. All Rights Reserved Website created and maintained by Ellen Rony - Alexander Works, Tiburon, CA Hostedouth Boston, VA