Roy C. Amara

Roy C. Amara 82, died peacefully surrounded by his loving wife and children on December 31, 2007. Roy graduated from a Boston, Massachusetts high school with honors in June 1942. Though he started college at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in 1942, Roy left MIT in 1944 to serve in the U. S. Navy during World War II until he was honorably discharged in June 1946. In 1946, he used a high school scholarship and the GI Bill to finish studies at MIT and graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Business and Engineering Administration in June 1948. He used the GI Bill to help finance his studies at Harvard University in the School of Arts and Science and graduated with a Master of Arts in Teaching Science in June 1949. In 1948 Roy met Margaret Terestre and they married in July 1949. Shortly thereafter they moved to California where Roy worked 3 years as a physics, algebra, and geometry teacher at Sequoia Union High School in Redwood City, California. In 1952, Roy began an 18-year career at Stanford Research Institute (SRI), Menlo Park, California. He started in engineering and worked on the development of ERMA, an electronic computer in the early 1950s. He ended his SRI career as a vice president of institute programs. Roy established and directed a major continuing program of research in interactive computing, established the first federally funded education futures centers, and initiated the startup of the decision analysis group (jointly with faculty from Stanford University's Engineering and Economic Systems Department). During this same period Roy earned a PhD in Electrical Engineering from Stanford University in1958. In 1971 Roy went to work as one of the founding members, President and CEO of Institute for the Future (IFTF), Palo Alto, California. Roy was the leader of the Institute through 1990 as it explored emerging technologies, global business trends, and the future of health care. He led one of the first studies of global climate changes in 1977. Among his accomplishments, Roy established IFTF's annual Ten Year Forecast, now it its 35th year. For ten years he focused almost exclusively on health care issues and engaged in a variety of strategy development efforts. After retiring in 1992 and through 1997, Roy mentored IFTF staff as the President Emeritus, Senior Research Fellow, and Advisor. Roy also worked 1992-1997 with the Strategic Decisions Group, an international consulting firm whose predecessor organization he helped establish, as a Senior Research Fellow. Roy published nearly 40 articles in scientific journals and has co-authored two books - Looking Ahead at American Health Care (1988) and Business Planning for an Uncertain Future (1983). Roy was an avid walker and enjoyed hiking on the local trails with friends and family. Yosemite and the High Sierra Camps were favorite trips and at age 70 he climbed to the top of Half Dome. Tennis, swimming, attending the symphony, and visiting museums, as well as several national and international trips occupied some of his leisure time. He took particular pleasure in spending time with his children and extended family. Roy's quiet humor, warm and gentle personality and broad smile will be greatly missed by family and friends. Roy will be remembered for a being a caring father and loving husband, a cutting edge scientist, and efficient executive manager. He was a forecaster, strategic planner and decision consultant renowned in his field. Roy is survived by his wife, Margaret of almost 59 years, son, Mark and daughter-in-law, Margaret and grand daughter, Kelsey; son, Dirk, and daughter-in-law, Sandy and grandchildren, Audrey, Andrew, Lee, and Anthony; and daughter, Christine and son-in-law, Jim. Wholehearted thanks go to the entire staff at the Sequoia's Health Center for their kind and compassionate care during Roy's waning days. A Memorial Celebration of Roy Amara's Life will be held at the Sequoia's Retirement Community Lounge, 501 Portola Road, Portola Valley, California on Saturday, February 2, 2008 from 3 PM to 5 PM. Contributions in Roy Amara's name may be made to the Mid Peninsula Regional Open Space District, 330 Distel Circle, Los Altos, California 94022-1404.