FUNERAL HOME

Joseph Levine & Sons Memorial Chapel, Inc. - Trevose

4737 Street Road

Trevose, Pennsylvania

BORIS BEIZER Obituary

BEIZER
BORIS, PhD
Age 84, October 7, 2018 of Huntingdon Valley, PA; beloved husband for 63 years of Ruth (nee Abraham); loving father of Paul D. Beizer and Richard A. Beizer (Sarah); cherished grand-father of twins, Noah and Leah. Boris was an internationally recognized authority on software testing and quality assurance; he was an author of 9 books on that subject and two novels. Relatives and friends are invited to Memorial Services, Thursday, 1:00 P.M., JOSEPH LEVINE & SONS, 4737 Street Rd., Trevose, PA. Shiva will be observed at the late residence. In lieu of flowers, contributions in his memory may be made to Abington Free Library or The M.S. Foundation.

www.levinefuneral.com


Published by Philadelphia Inquirer/Philadelphia Daily News on Oct. 9, 2018.
34465541-95D0-45B0-BEEB-B9E0361A315A

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

Memories and Condolences
for BORIS BEIZER

Sponsored by Joseph Levine & Sons Memorial Chapel, Inc. - Trevose.

Not sure what to say?





6 Entries

Boris Beizer Memories
Saddened to hear of the passing of Boris Beizer. My most distinct memories of him were his presence at Software Quality conferences in the 80s and 90s. He intently listened to speaker presentations and could be counted on to ask hard questions during the talks. He could also be seen networking with vendors and presenters alike in the hallways at breaks his glasses tucked above his forehead and constantly falling down as he was admonishing someone (usually for good cause) because of a pronouncement in their presentation that Object Oriented code would not be testable, or a vendor assertion that 100% test coverage assured bug free code. He set the bar for credibility in the yet to be respected software testing profession. He made it abundantly clear that computer programmers generated bugs and were not necessarily software engineers by law in most US states.

Back in this era there were the Box Wars. Boris's advocating that Black Box testing was most important and Tom McCabe's claiming white box testing was the key to success. Arguments about the virtues and shortcomings of each method were passionate. Agreement on the best way to test something has never been a characteristic of our field. Disagreements and resentments being a key ingredient for advancing the state of the art. The White Box/Black Box philosophies eventually evolved into Unit Testing and System Testing, both now considered essential. Boris was a prolific author of some of the leading books about software testing and quality. I still cherish mine and find these test design techniques timeless. Boris was gracious in his writings to give credit those whom he had referenced. He also authored two science fiction novels.

If you ever wanted a thorough review of a paper, book, presentation, or software product, Boris was the guy to have review it. Twice in my career I asked Boris to review software; he did not disappoint. He practiced what he preached. His ability to surface the most obscure corner cases was astonishing. His interest included which algorithms were used and the pros and cons of each. While he was an advocate of formal methods, he could be counted on to strike terror into the hearts of vendors at the exhibition hall just by walking by. If your exhibited tool or technique impressed Boris, he was also quick to praise it.

My most personal memory of Boris was spending a day sailing with him on the San Francisco Bay. He knew everything there was to know about boats, sails, motors, rigging, and weather. Then when the topic turned to bridges he knew all about those as well. Books, movies, sports, electronics, radio, physics, chemistry, mathematics, wine, whatever the topic du jour was, Boris knew about each one deeply. It was as though he had a pair of google glasses and was browsing the internet on each topic while speaking. But this was pre-internet. This knowledge was all in his head! He cracked encryption methods just for joy of doing it before cyber security was a field. He was a true renaissance man.

Boris unwittingly is also responsible for causing some of the most creative advancements in the software testing field by inspiring the younger generation of testers to prove him wrong. Boris relied heavily on his understanding of science and logic to forge testing techniques, but for those who did not have an education in the sciences, new approaches were required. There was only one Boris Beizer, and he could not be on everyone's test team. James Bach comes to mind as an example of one of those who proved effective testing was possible without all the science, using the focused resources of the human brain, application exploration, and learning. Both approaches have merits, and both are essential for mission critical applications.

Boris became the closest thing our field has ever had to a rock star. He only traveled first class in an era before mileage upgrades. He only stayed at the best places and drank the best wines. He was not one to trifle with when listing accounting regulations for travel. If you needed his help it was going to cost you, but the value he brought always far exceeded that cost.

Last time I talked to Boris he was building ship models, no doubt highly accurate and detailed, and enjoyed his retirement pursuits. He made a huge contribution to software testing and software quality fields either directly by sharing his gifts or indirectly by challenging us to do better. He was one of my mentors, and I am glad to have spent some quality time with him. Someone like Boris Beizer does not come along very often. He would have been a giant in any field he chose. I am grateful that he chose software testing. His contributions to our field formalized it and elevated it from a penalty box for unsuccessful developers to a profession on par with and valued as highly as any in the software industry. Thanks Boris, Greg

Gregory Pope

October 25, 2018

Dear Ruth,

Ruby and I were very saddened to learn of Boris' passing. Although I hadn't seen him for a very long time I remember him well from many years ago when Mechel and Esther we're living in NY. and I came with my Dad from Barbados to visit. I will miss our occasional, genealogy-related phone calls and his knowledge of Beizer family history. Our hearts go out to you and all your family.

With much love,

Simon Kreindler

October 14, 2018

I remember the spectacular, magical wedding of Ruth and Boris 63 years ago. Ruth was beautiful and Boris handsome. It was unforgettable.
One time, when I was a child, Cousins Ruth and Boris visited our house in Merrick. Sitting on the floor I was surrounded by a pile of pages I had written for my book about a horse. Boris read a few pages and encouraged me to continue writing. He was one of the only people In my life who told me he thought I was capable of accomplishing something. In mid-life when I wanted to change careers, I asked him about computer science and he encouraged me to pursue my interests. He was on my side again.
Cousin Boris always had a joke, a riddle, a paradox or a new point of view to share. I just listened and tried to keep up, but was always fascinated. I didn't realize he had published so many books, most of them far over my head. His hobbies were complicated and amazing. He had a private joke, hidden somewhere in a wall of his house. Sometimes he just grinned about it. We know that Cheshire cat grin, accompanied by a chuckle and a look that asked, "Did you get it?"
I wish I could be a member of his audience one more time. I will miss beloved Cousin Boris greatly.

Evelyn Simpson

October 10, 2018

So sorry to hear of the passing of Boris. The Beizer family is in our thoughts.

Leonard and Karen Peskin

October 9, 2018

Boris, my mentor from the time of my early childhood, encouraged me to pursue my interest in science, engineering and mathematics. He helped me with my model airplanes and took me to a Republic Aviation open house where I thrilled at the sight of the brand new F-105 fighter-bomber. He gave me my first slide rule and taught me how to use it.

Boris wrote the first software for Princeton Instruments, Inc., thereby allowing PI to deliver its new systems. His software started the growth from two guys in a basement to a company that provided 135 jobs in the NJ/PA area.

When Boris led Seders, he always connected the history of Exodus with present-day events and even presented a Gonif Insurance Policy to add humor to the ransoming of the Afikoman.
An accomplished sailor and an expert on all things nautical and aeronautical, Boris made museum- quality models of ships from Viking Longships to whalers.

Author, sailor, craftsman, scientist, novelist, poet, loving husband and father, he created himself as a responsible and creative model as I grew to love and to imitate him as well as I can ever do.

Raymond Simpson

October 9, 2018

Our sincere condolences to your family and friends. May the God who binds up the brokenhearted and comforts all who mourn, sustain your family during this difficult time - Isaiah 61:1, 2.

October 9, 2018

Showing 1 - 6 of 6 results

Make a Donation
in BORIS BEIZER's name

Memorial Events
for BORIS BEIZER

Oct

11

Memorial service

1:00 p.m.

Joseph Levine & Sons Memorial Chapel, Inc. - Trevose

4737 Street Road, Trevose, PA 19053

Funeral services provided by:

Joseph Levine & Sons Memorial Chapel, Inc. - Trevose

4737 Street Road, Trevose, PA 19053

How to support BORIS's loved ones
Commemorate a cherished Veteran with a special tribute of Taps at the National WWI Memorial in Washington, D.C.

The nightly ceremony in Washington, D.C. will be dedicated in honor of your loved one on the day of your choosing.

Read more
Attending a Funeral: What to Know

You have funeral questions, we have answers.

Read more
Should I Send Sympathy Flowers?

What kind of arrangement is appropriate, where should you send it, and when should you send an alternative?

Read more
What Should I Write in a Sympathy Card?

We'll help you find the right words to comfort your family member or loved one during this difficult time.

Read more
Resources to help you cope with loss
How to Write an Obituary

Need help writing an obituary? Here's a step-by-step guide...

Read more
Estate Settlement Guide

If you’re in charge of handling the affairs for a recently deceased loved one, this guide offers a helpful checklist.

Read more
Obituaries, grief & privacy: Legacy’s news editor on NPR podcast

Legacy's Linnea Crowther discusses how families talk about causes of death in the obituaries they write.

Read more
The Five Stages of Grief

They're not a map to follow, but simply a description of what people commonly feel.

Read more
Ways to honor BORIS BEIZER's life and legacy
How to Write an Obituary

Need help writing an obituary? Here's a step-by-step guide...

Read more
Obituary Templates

These free blank templates make writing an obituary faster and easier.

Read more
Obituary Examples

You may find these well-written obituary examples helpful as you write about your own family.

Read more
How Do I Write a Eulogy?

Some basic help and starters when you have to write a tribute to someone you love.

Read more

Sponsored