Thomas Cover

Thomas Cover
Thomas Cover, acclaimed information theorist and Stanford Professor, dies at 73
Tom Cover, one of the world's top information theorists and a professor of electrical engineering and of statistics at Stanford University, died March 26 at Stanford Hospital. Born in San Bernardino, California on August 7, 1938. Tom was a member of the first graduating class of Pacific High School in 1956 where he was the school's first valedictorian. Tom ran cross country and played on Pacific's golf and tennis team. Cover loved sports. As a boy he played with Ernie Gonzales on the San Bernardino Little League All-Star Team that won 4th place in the World Series in Williamsport, Pennsylvania.
"What was most impressive about Tom was his legendary creativity and brilliance," remembered Andrea Goldsmith, a Stanford professor of electrical engineering, colleague and friend. "No one thought about technical problems the way Tom did. He was able to crack some of the most challenging problems in information theory with elegance and beauty."
Tom is the first son of Dr. and Mrs. William L. Cover, residents of San Bernardino since 1938. Tom is survived by his wife, Karen (nee De Muth), also from San Bernardino, a son, Bill Cover, a daughter, Cindy Black, and a stepson, Gordon Fields; three brothers, Bill, Chuck and John; and four grandchildren, Carolina, Jon, Brian and Laura.
A memorial service is planned for October 12, 2012 at the Stanford University Alumni Center.