Obituaries



Austin Hoggatt Computer Simulation Expert Austin Hoggatt

Haas School Professor Emeritus Austin “Auggie” Hoggatt, a simulation expert who helped start the Berkeley Energy and Resources Group, died of congestive heart failure at his home April 29. He was 79.

Before joining the business school at UC Berkeley in 1957, Hoggatt earned his PhD at the University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, writing the first thesis in the US that used simulations with a human-to-computer interface.

Hoggatt served as the director of UC Berkeley’s Computer Center from 1961 to 1962. At the business school, he co-founded the Management Science Laboratory with Professor Fred Balderston in 1968 and served as its chairman. The lab, funded by the National Science Foundation, was the first to run computer simulations in game theory and experimental economics with human-to-computer interface, according to his family.

Hoggatt and Balderston co-authored an influential book, Simulation of Market Processes, based on computer simulations they had conducted on the lumber industry.

“The book was a breakthrough because this kind of analysis of an entire industry was not possible before the advent of computers,” Haas Professor Thomas Marschak said. “Hoggatt was a pioneer in computing even before the field of computer science had emerged.”

In 1972 Hoggatt was invited by former Berkeley Professor John Holdren, currently President Obama’s adviser on science and technology, to help launch the interdisciplinary Energy and Resources Group to foster research and leadership in environmental resources and sustainability at UC Berkeley.

Hoggatt taught mathematics, statistics, and quantitative methods at all levels, from undergraduates to PhD students.

Hoggatt is survived by his wife of 57 years, Patricia Jane Lynn, with whom he raised five daughters -- Lynn, Tina, Karen (deceased), Dawn, and Wendy. Donations in honor of Hoggatt may be made to The Bear Fellowship at the Energy and Resources Group, University of California, Berkeley, erg.berkeley.edu, (510) 642-1640.


 

Ernest Koenigsberg Transportation Expert Ernest Koenigsberg

Professor Emeritus Ernest Koenigsberg died of heart failure at his San Francisco home on April 20, four days after his 86th birthday.

Koenigsberg joined the Haas School as a lecturer in 1963 and was appointed professor in 1982. He retired in 1991.

An expert in operations research and management science, Koenigsberg focused much of his work on transportation and shipping. He was also a popular teacher.

“He embodied everything we wanted in the classroom,” said former Haas School Dean and faculty colleague Raymond Miles. “He was an excellent teacher who could bring real-world experience into his classes.”

Koenigsberg is survived by his wife of 54 years, Susan; his daughter, Joanna, of London; his son, Martin, of Los Angeles; and four grandchildren.

Donations may be sent to the American Friends of The Hebrew University, One Battery Park Plaza, 25th Floor, New York, NY 10004, or via credit card at afhu.org/civicrm/contribute/ transact?reset=1&id=1.


 

Jay Morrison VC Veteran Jay Morrison, PhD 77

Venture capitalist Jay Morrison, PhD 77, a longtime supporter of entrepreneurship at the Haas School, passed away Jan. 6 after a battle with brain cancer. He was 61 years old.

Morrison was an active speaker and adviser to the Berkeley Entrepreneurs Forum, a series of events organized by the Haas School’s Lester Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation. He received a special award from the Lester Center at its 2008 annual dinner for his contribution to the field of entrepreneurship.

“Jay was true gold and blue. He was a consistent and solid friend of the Lester Center and an inspiration to generations of students,” said Jerry Engel, the Lester Center’s executive director. “Jay will be missed by all of us very much.”

Morrison spent more than 25 years in the venture capital industry, first at Berkeley International Capital and then later as founder and general partner of Newbury Ventures. At Newbury, he focused on investments in communications systems, semiconductor devices, and software. He also was a senior research fellow at the National Bureau of Economic Research.

Morrison earned a BS in industrial engineering and an MS in operations research from Ohio State and a PhD in management sciences from the Haas School.

Morrison is survived by his wife, Jody Poor Morrison; his son, Geoffrey; and his daughter, Kimberly. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations in Morrison’s honor be made to Room-to-Read, 111 Sutter St., 16th Floor, San Francisco, CA 94104 or The Make-A-Wish Foundation of America, P.O. Box 29119, Phoenix, AZ 85038.


 

Rich Roberts Alumnus Rich Roberts, MBA 99

Richard C. Roberts, MBA 99, died peacefully at home in San Rafael on April 23 after a courageous battle with cancer. He was 38.

Roberts was born and raised in Massachusetts, where he graduated from Boston College. He began his career as a CPA at Coopers & Lybrand and soon moved out west to Southern California to work at the Walt Disney Co.

After several years in Santa Monica, Roberts moved to the Bay Area, where he earned an MBA from the Haas School. While at Haas, he discovered his entrepreneurial streak and began working at startups in San Francisco. He co-founded and sold an Internet marketing company, GetRelevant, and helped turn around a struggling CD/DVD duplication service.

After discovering he had cancer, Roberts chronicled his battle against the disease for family and friends on a sometimes humorous blog, http://richfights.blogspot.com/.

“To say Rich was an inspiration is quite the understatement. In class he was gregarious, smiling, and a great team member and contributor,” said Jerry Engel, executive director of the Lester Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation. “After Rich became ill, though, he became a leader, a role model for all of us to look to when we meet challenges in our own lives.”

Roberts enjoyed traveling, and some of his favorite spots were Bali, Thailand, Costa Rica, and Australia. A passionate swing dancer, Roberts coordinated many swing dance nights with his friends while he was at Haas.

Roberts is survived by his wife, Michelle; daughter, Lucy; parents Richard (Duke) and Diane; and sister, Sharon Pina, and brotherin- law, David Pina, and nieces Lauren and Rachel Pina.

The family requests that donations in Roberts’ memory be made to any of the following organizations:

  • A fund to benefit his daughter’s education. Please make a check payable to Lucy Roberts and send it to
    The Lucy Roberts Fund
    2030 Union St., Suite 205
    San Francisco, CA 94123.

  • The Richard C. Roberts Scholarship, established at Roberts’ high school alma mater in Massachusetts. Please make checks payable to Bishop Stang High School and note that your donation is for the Richard C. Roberts Scholarship. Contributions should be sent to Richard C. Roberts Scholarship, Bishop Stang, Attention: Advancement, 500 Slocum Road, North Dartmouth, MA 02747.

  • The Melanoma Research Foundation, melanoma.org/memorialdonation.aspx.

 

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