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Stanford University California Institute of Technology

FUNERAL HOME

Darling & Fischer Chapel of the Hills

615 North Santa Cruz Avenue

Los Gatos, California

Tom Hedges Obituary

Tom (Tooner) Hedges Thomas Smith Hedges was taken into rest on November 16, 2007. Tom was a three-time Lymphoma survivor, who celebrated life to the fullest and with courage. He passed away peacefully in his sleep after suffering years of physical impairment. Tom grew up in Kansas City's Brookside neighborhood and moved to California in the late 60s to study Electrical Engineering at the California Institute of Technology, where he received a bachelor of science degree. He later moved to the San Francisco Bay area where he obtained a master's degree in Electrical Engineering at Stanford University. He went on to further studies in Electrical Engineering and software design just shy of a doctoral thesis. Tom was a pioneer of early graphics art tools and sound card development for the Mac. He started his own venture with partner Mark Zimmer by founding Fractal Design Corporation in Santa Cruz, Calif. Painter and Dabbler, natural-media graphic applications for the Mac, became immensely popular. Fractal merged with another company in February 1997 to form MetaCreations. The Painter software Tom and Mark created in the mid-90s is now in its 10th edition and owned and marketed by Corel. In later years, Tom lived in semi-retirement with his wife. He pursued consulting work by using a voice-controlled interface, a tongue stick, and a foot pedal to overcome the physical disabilities that resulted from cancer treatment. Tom and his wife Robin traveled widely and devoted their time to family and friends. On October 3, 2002, Tom was honored with the prestigious Semi Award for his role in the development of GDSII streaming format, a standard for IC design tapeout, at Calma Company during the early 80s. Tom was born the eldest son of Horace S. Hedges and Georganne Combs Hedges of Kansas City, Mo. He is survived by his wife, Robin Hedges, and two children, Colin and Broghan Hedges, of Aptos, Calif. He is also survived by his younger brother Christopher Hedges, sister-in-law Marilyn, and his nephew Andrew, all of Kansas City, Mo. A private memorial service was held for family and friends on Tuesday, November 20, 2007, at the Darling Fischer Chapel of the Hills at 615 N. Santa Cruz Ave., Los Gatos, Calif. The memorial service included Tom's favorite music from the Beatles and eulogies by Christopher Hedges, Daryl Wise, John Nogatch, and Mark Zimmer. Following the service, friends and family gathered at C.B. Hannegans, a favorite restaurant of Tom's. For special giving in Tom's memory, please send donations to the Lymphoma Society or Shriners Children's Hospital.

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

Published by San Jose Mercury News from Nov. 20 to Nov. 25, 2007.

Memories and Condolences
for Tom Hedges

Sponsored by a Calma colleague.

13 Entries

Tom Schaefer

November 15, 2022

Tom came to work at Calma in 1973. Our software manager Bill Nickels found him by phoning a Stanford professor and asking if he had any grad students interested in working part-time.

Tom cut a unique figure. With his tall, lanky build, wavy hair in a ponytail, and lively intellect, I would say he projected a certain electric energy. Although a graduate of CalTech, he had an air of unsophisticated outgoing cheerfulness -- brainy but not wrapped up in his braininess.

Like me, he had an affinity for late-night hours. He, I, and several other kindred souls were the ghosts who haunted the machine room after the daytime workers had gone home. Hunching over ASR33 teletypes, we crafted the code that added new features to the GDS system.

In 1976 Calma undertook to develop a successor system to GDS, later to be christened "GDS II" but referred to at the time as "SGDS". The SGDS design team consisted of Tom, me, Carl Smith, Paul King, and project leader Roger Sturgeon. Sitting through sometimes tedious meetings, we worked out the architecture of the new system.

The first delivery of the GDS II system was made to several Japanese companies in March 1978. Calma took the unusual step of sending the whole design team to Japan to support the delivery. Some major reworking was still needed to turn GDS II into a usable system, and Roger and Tom took the lead in making those crucial changes.

What stands out in my memory of Tom is not only his intelligence, but also his sense of fairness, his open-mindedness, his willingness to express reasoned opinions on a wide range of topics. Also, his essential cheerfulness. When discussing technical topics, there was generally enthusiasm in his voice and a hint of a smile on his face, as if the work he was doing was not work but a game he enjoyed.

Less clear in my memory are the times when we butted heads. Tom did not hesitate to speak out when he disagreed with the way a piece of code had been written. At times he did more than speak out, he would jump in and change the offending code. This often did not sit well with the people
whose code was changed, and tempers sometimes flared. Although we were rivals in various ways, on the whole I felt that he liked me, and that made me like him.

His technical judgments were usually right on. But he never let it go to his head. He always had a certain modesty, an unwillingness to boast about himself. In those days he hosted a weekly music program on the Stanford radio station KZSU. When I listened, there was little of Tom to be heard -- he would mostly play records, occasionally breaking in to
give a few song titles. It was very low-key.

Even though I had hardly any contact with him in later years, having Tom gone felt like a terrible loss.

February 2, 2010

Always admired Tom for his GDSII work. I'm an old IC-Designer, since the late 70's.
Used and supported this amazing system

His standard will live on forever!

Scott Fohrman

February 2, 2010

Always admired Tom for his GDSII work. I'm an old IC-Designer, since the late 70's.
Used and supported this amazing system

His standard will live on forever!

Tom Schaefer

January 16, 2008

I would like to point out that personal tributes to Tom may also be found on the following web sites:

www.tribbit.com/tribute.html?t=7752

www.legacy.com/KansasCity/DeathNotices.asp?Page=Notice&PersonID=98534127

The second link above may also be accessed by going to www.legacy.com and searching for "Thomas Hedges".

Mark & Heidi Barnes

December 16, 2007

Robin, Heidi and I are deeply saddened to hear of your loss. Please know that our thoughts and prayers are with you and your families.

Darling Fischer Chapel of the Hills

November 24, 2007

Offering our deepest condolences during this difficult time.

Barbara Foster

November 22, 2007

Today people count their blessings and I would put knowing Tom as one of mine. He was a talented and driven creative force when I met and worked for him at Calma in the late 1970's. It was the time of our youth, which was made extraordinary by the genius of people like Tom. In those days, long, late hours were typical: work was play. Robin was there… (it was wonderful to hear they reunited). Learning Tom is gone gave me pause to remember and appreciate him. He was my boss, my former brother-in-law, and an individual I feel fortunate to have known.

George Curran

November 22, 2007

My sincerest condolences to Tom's family and friends. I knew Tom as "Tooner" in middle school at Pembroke Country Day School. For the last 40+ years I have always mentioned the rocket that he designed as a science project whenever I talk about "the old days" in KC. I remember always looking up to "Tooner" (figuratively and literally, since he towered over me). I will miss him but will never forget him.

Monica (Helen's daughter) Molton

November 20, 2007

Hi Robin I am so very sorry to learn about Tom's passing. My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family.

Rex Krakauer

November 20, 2007

Rex and Xiaoning Krakaer

Helen Huling

November 20, 2007

Robin,
I am so sorry to hear about Tom passing. My thoughts and prayers are with you.

Dan Tilson

November 20, 2007

Tom was "Tooner" to me for over 50 years, dating to when we were small boys at St. Andrew's Sunday school. We were acolytes together, and were frequently matched due to our height. He far surpassed me at Pem-Day where we were classmates for 7 years. Always distinctive in his intellect and appearance, Tooner had a perspective that was sharp and shrewd. He was a quiet and steady friend, and I will miss the thought that we will meet at a reunion someday and laugh at all we shared. Rest in peace, Tooner.

Greg Smith

November 20, 2007

The news of Tooner's passing is reaching Kansas City and his stunned classmates from the early years. His intelligence was under stated and his vision into the graphic field has forever changed the world. Although cut short, we are so blessed with his life spent here. Our thoughts and prayers are with Robin and Thomas' family.

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