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James PULFER Obituary
VE3PU
Passed away Easter morning, March 31, 2013 at the age of 80, beloved spouse of Rolande and dear father of Suzanne (Michael), Charles (Christiane) and James (Barbara). He will be sadly missed by his four granddaughters, Stephanie and Chloe, and Savannah and Madison, and by his only grandson, Kennedy. He was the son of Charles and Marion of Winnipeg and is survived by his only sibling, Vernon (Wpg). After graduating from the University of Manitoba with a Master's degree in Electrical Engineering, Ken started his career at the NRC where he remained for 37 years holding the position of Vice- President for the last 10 years. In 1984 he received an Honorary Doctor of Science degree from his alma mater. During his retirement Ken worked for 16 years as a volunteer for Radio Amateurs of Canada and also for The International Amateur Radio Union travelling to Geneva several times a year. According to his wishes there will be no visitation or service. Cremation has taken place and the disposal of his ashes
by his family will be at a later date. Condolences or tributes may be made at tubmanfuneralhomes.com
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
31 Entries
Bob Jones VE7RWJ
April 14, 2013
I was shocked when I just learned about Ken's passing. I had an e mail from him on January 31st in which he said how he was looking forward to finally having some time to put his feet up after ensuring that the advancement of amateur radio especially at the international level was in good hands. Typical of Ken, he always put the cause of amateur radio first. He was so incredibly competent and yet had such humility in all that he did. He will be sorely missed by all who knew him. My sincere condolences to all of the family.
Rolande Pulfer
April 11, 2013
To all the friends, colleagues, NRC scientists, and all RAC and IARU members: I would like to thank you all from the bottom of my heart for your nice words and condolences. Even though I find them hard to read without shedding a few tears, my family and I are grateful for honouring Ken with such respect. Thank you all from myself and my family. Rolande
April 10, 2013
Having just learned of Ken's passing, I am greatly saddened. I knew Ken for many years, both through his NRC work and as a fellow radio amateur. He was a wise, sensible, knowledgeable, and pleasant gentleman.
Ken made an impressive contribution to society through his life. He will be greatly missed.
My sincere condolences to the family.
Bob Kavanagh, VE3OSZ
April 9, 2013
I never met Ken personally, but I knew of and appreciated the work he did for Amateur Radio
Norm VE3VY
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Cindy Cook
April 8, 2013
My deepest sympathies on the loss of Ken. I feel blessed to have known and worked with him. He will be greatly missed in our Canadian prep meetings and at the ITU-R.
Bob MacKenzie VA3RKM
April 8, 2013
Ken will be missed by many. I enjoyed working with him on the QCWA executive. He was energetic and conscientious in his work for our Chapter. And I enjoyed his ham radio-inspired music.
April 7, 2013
Dear Rolande and Family: Jim a was friend of mine for a long long time and I have many memories of the years of ham activities. I will miss his cheerful smile and greeting.My sincere condolences Rolande. Bill Barrie VE3AAS
April 7, 2013
Condolences to the family. We had the pleasure of knowing Ken for many years.
Ed Morgan VE3GX and Doreen Morgan VE3CGO
Gus Holtz VE3VK
April 7, 2013
Ken, may your spirit be free
and know no bounds.
Jim and Sandra Dean
April 6, 2013
Our deepest condolences to Rolande, Suzanne, Charles and James. Ken was wonderful friend, neighbour and engineer. He was the consummate gentleman and a person whose integrity earned him high international repect. May he rest in peace.
Norm Rashleigh, VE3LC
April 6, 2013
Dear Rolande and family
I knew Ken for many years through amateur radio and QCWA Chapter 70. I enjoyed his company often sitting across from him at the Summerhays restaurant Tuesday mornings. Ken aways sat in the same place facing the south window by the fireplace; it was so cosy there in the winter. Last Tuesday, it seemed so strange he wasn't sitting there.
I was so fortunate he gave me his Kenwood receiver; he figured I could fix it and get it going again. I will try as I have already diagnosed the problem. When looking at the receiver, I will always be reminded of Ken. I always respected Ken as a true gentleman, a man of great intellect and organization yet always so humble. I and all of us that met with him regularly will miss his company and conversation.
My very deepest sympathy and sincere condolences.
Doug Leach
April 6, 2013
April 6
My sincere condolences to Rolande and family. All those who knew him will remember Ken fondly and with great respect. I worked with Ken on many Radio Amateurs of Canada projects and came to trust his judgement and his calm intellect. He will be greatly missed and the world will be poorer for his passing.
Doug Leach VE3XK
Bryan Rawlings
April 6, 2013
In my mind's eye I see Ken diligently organizing communications in heaven. With an eternity ahead of him, he will patiently bring the same order and purpose to the work that he did down here. God Bless You, Ken. May you rest in peace.
April 5, 2013
To Rolande and family
Our deepest sympathy. Ken was a sincere, honest and trusted friend to all of us at NRC who knew him.
Jack and Pat Scrimgeour
John Barnhardt
April 5, 2013
Dear Rolande and Family:
My deepest sympathy to all of you. Ken was a good friend and will be missed by us all at the QCWA Chapter #70 Club.
We will miss Ken very much.
Sincerely, John Barnhardt / VE3ZOV
Dick Bourgeois-Doyle
April 5, 2013
Ken was highly regarded as a long time NRC Vice-President and multi-lab program manager. A humble and very respectful executive and leader, he inspired people to do better because they wanted to help him.
But I believe that Ken's impact on Canada and innovation internationally will always be his cross-disciplinary engineering programs and pioneering research in practical and commercial application of computer technologies in the late 1960s and 1970s.
I could elaborate, but others have said it much better. For example ...
Bill Buxton, the Canadian genius who became the Principal Researcher of Microsoft in the U.S.A., worked in Ottawa at NRC during his early career and has written that this is where systems were pioneered on “human-computer interaction”, saying it was the result of the“key insight of Ken Pulfer, who spearheaded the project, (which) was that to do this effectively he needed to work with users- in some rich and potent application domain.”
This paper said that the significance of Ken's work ”transcends the publications. For example, for any graphics or HCI student who has come out of the University of Toronto, this work is a significant part of their heritage – whether they know it or not. In fact, the music and animation systems developed at NRC provided one of the key catalysts to Canadian strength in HCI (Human Computer Interface) ... (as well as commercial applications in) computer music, and computer animation.”
In the 2008 Book HCI Remixed (MIT Press) Thomas Erickson (IBM T. J. Watson Research Center) and David W. McDonald (University of Washington), Microsoft's Buxton says, in talking of Ken Pulfer and his team, “I am still striving to be worthy of the folks who gave me this, my first introduction to what has become my career.”
http://www.billbuxton.com/MyVision.pdf
My condolences to his family.
Amy Sanders
April 4, 2013
We will miss Ken's contributions and his gentle manner in dealing with contentious issues in the ITU-R. But, our loss is nothing compared to your loss. Please accept my sympathies and condolences.
April 4, 2013
Please accept our sincere condolenses. May God bless you and your family in your time of sorrow. Rest In Peace.
The TITUS Team
Ben Price
April 3, 2013
Ken was a wonderful person and will certainly be missed. Our condolences to the family.
Ben and Karen Price (VE3CDA / AD5YY)
John Barnhardt / VE3ZOV
April 3, 2013
Dear Rolande and Family:
My deepest sympathy to all of you. Ken was a good friend and will be greatly missed by all of us in the QCWA Chapter #70 Club in Ottawa, ON.
Best Wishes to all of you.
Sincerely, John / VE3ZOV
April 3, 2013
A great company to have ITU and RABC meetings. My condolence to Ken's family
Vino
Ernie (va3oeb) Brown
April 2, 2013
Our sincere condolences to you Rolande, and the family. Jim was a very special person in the Radio Amateur group. He will be greatly missed.
Keigo Komuro, JA1KAB
April 2, 2013
Ken-san was one of oldest friends of mine.
His compromise in ITU meetings was always beautiful and great.
Remi Chayer
April 2, 2013
I was blessed to have known Ken a few years ago. I enjoyed working with such a knowledgeable person on ITU matters. To Ken's family and friends, please accept my deepest sympathies.
Cary Honeywell
April 2, 2013
A great individual and a valuable contributor to the present and the future of Amateur Radio and Amateur's everywhere> he will be missed.
Cary Honeywell VE3EV
Bill Barrie
April 2, 2013
Rolande; Bill Barrie sends sincere condolences regarding the loss of Ken. Such a good friend. The world is a lot poorer without Ken.
Guy Charron VE3VCF
April 2, 2013
Ken's loss is a great loss to all those who knew him. My condolences to Rolande and the family
Daniel Lamoureux
April 2, 2013
Nos plus sincères condoléances à Rolande et à la famille de Ken. We lost a friend.
Jacqueline & Daniel Lamoureux
Betty & Jack Franklin
April 2, 2013
Dear Rolande: Thoughts and prayers are with you and your family.
April 2, 2013
Please accept our condolences.
Lynn and Rosemary MacKenzie
David Sumner
April 2, 2013
Ken was a volunteer representative of the world's radio amateurs at countless International Telecommunication Union meetings in Geneva. So many adjectives come to mind to describe him: talented, brilliant, hardworking, respected, loyal, and always amiable. Our heartfelt condolences go to Rolande and his entire family.
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