Donald J. Senzig, Jr.
1951 - 2004
Don's a terrific fan of science fiction that fit so well with his love of science,
electronics, computers and his love of reading.
He was a genius with all things electronic and "computerish".
He could design hardware and software with a skill that seemed magical.
Don was an excellent teacher and mentor. He built his first computer, an
Altair 8080, from a kit. He was hooked on the possibilities in that box.
He was a founder of the Wisconsin Computing Society in 1975.
He met his beloved wife, Grace (aka Dorothy), at the first science fiction convention held in Milwaukee
where he organized the first computer room. Author and friend, Suzanne Blom
convinced Grace to attend. At science fiction conventions you could always find Don
in the computer room, reading a new book or with Grace.
An author friend, Gene DeWeese, is working on a Star Trek ® novel with Scotty, the
engineer, as the main character. Gene is dedicating this book, ENGINES OF DESTINY,
to be published in March, 2005,
to Don who helped him keep his computer singing and dancing.
Gene's dedication is:
"For Don Senzig, a better friend than I deserved, a 20th century Scotty of the computer
world, whose miracle working and generosity has kept me going the last 20 years."
(Gene is much too modest. His friendship was of great value to Don)
Be sure to read the top of page 62 in Gene's book.
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My heart is broken. Don was my best friend and I just can't explain it with words.
We shared a love of and curiosity about science and reading. We knew how to have a life
together and still be individuals.
Two of the books that Don and I read as kids were written by Arthur C. Clarke -- Against the Fall of Night
and The City and the Stars.
Clarke wrote the same words at the end of each book. They fit with our understanding of the
role that exploding stars millions of years ago formed the basis for the universe as we know it today.
I have taken the liberty of substituting Don's name for the part of the quotation that
refers to "Man" meaning "mankind".
Thank you to Gene DeWeese for finding these and reminding me of one of the first pleasures
meeting Don -- talking about books -- those strange science fiction books.
-- Grace (aka Dorothy)
A short video of Don and our cat
"In this universe, the night was falling: The shadows were lengthening
towards an east that would not know another dawn. But elsewhere the stars were still young
and the light of morning lingered: and along the path he once had followed, Don would
one day go again."
--- Arthur C. CLarke
