GILMORE, John Thomas "Jack" Jr. Was born on February 16, 1929, in Boston, Mass., the son of John T. Gilmore and Julia E. (Pickard) Gilmore. He passed away peacefully, surrounded by his loving family, on January 17, 2015, in Falmouth, Massachusetts. He was 85 years old. He is survived by his wife, Arlene A. (Dionne) Gilmore; 4 children, Susan L. Gilmore and her husband John W. Race of Wareham, MA; John T. Gilmore III and his wife Corinne Gilmore of Yarmouth, Maine; Mark J. Gilmore and his wife Margo Gilmore of Melbourne, FL; and Jennifer M. Thayer of Centennial, CO; 4 grandchildren, Skylar G. Race, Christopher J. Gilmore, Julia M.Thayer and Ian G. Thayer, 2 step-grandchildren, Jessica R. Beal and Jeremy M. Beal; and many nephews and nieces. He is predeceased by his sisters Eleanor M. (Gilmore) Browne and Muriel L. (Gilmore) McElman. Adored by his family, Jack was proud of calling tenacity his strongest talent, he lived a life full of remarkable accomplishments during his entrepreneurial career as a computer pioneer. His athleticism as a high hurdler led to his winning a 4-year scholarship to Boston College after breaking the high jump record at a track meet at Phillips Andover Academy. He graduated in 1950 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Physics. Later in life, he attributed his success to the education he had received at Boston College, as well as additional course work at MIT and Boston University. The highlight of his career was working as a system programmer for the MIT Project Whirlwind Mathematics Group, from 1950 to 1952. Jack wrote the first Assembly Program along with a variety of utility programs. This was the first software ever invented for commercial use and was used by air traffic controllers. Jack served In the U.S. Navy from 1952 to 1956 and in Reserve Duty until 1960, he became a U.S. Navy S2f Pilot. During his first 18 months in the Navy, he was a U.S. Naval Air Cadet and qualified as a carrier pilot in September of 1953 and in advanced training as an AD-1 Dive Bomber Pilot in March of 1954. As a member of the Advanced Computer Research Group at the MIT Lincoln Laboratory Computer Research Group from 1956 to 1959, Jack wrote the first personal computer operating system called "The TX-0 Direct Input Utility System" and was the logical designer of one of the first on line work stations called the MIT Lincoln Writer. In 1959, Jack co-founded Charles W. Adams Associates and Keydata Corporation, serving first as a Vice President of Adams Associates and later as President of its division, Keydata Corporation. From 1974 to 1992, Jack served on the staff of Digital Equipment Corporation in various managerial and technical roles in their Office Automation efforts. He designed Digital's Gold Key Word Processing user interface in 1975, became Product Group Manager for Word Processing Systems and later as Technical Manager for the Engineering Group which produced Digital's Electronic Mail and All-in-One Office Automation System. His last assignment was Director of Comparative Analysis before his retirement in 1992 to return to the consulting field. Jack is the sole inventor of two patents, one for Digital Equipment and one for his own firm, Comparative Visual Assessments, Inc. He volunteered as a Catholic Eucharistic Minister with the Rehabilitation Hospital of the Cape and Islands in Sandwich, MA. Visiting hours for Jack will be at Chapman, Cole & Gleason Funeral Home in Mashpee on Thursday January 29, 2015 from 4-7pm. A funeral mass will be celebrated at Christ the King Church on Friday January 30, 2015 at 11am. For on-line guestbook and directions, please visit www.ccgfuneralhome.com
Chapman, Cole & Gleason
Mashpee 508-477-4025
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
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My dad was the best! I miss him every day. Love you!
Jennifer Thayer
Family
January 20, 2023
May time's passing somehow help to ease your loss and sorrow. And may the memories left behind bring comfort always.
January 26, 2015
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Chapman Funerals & Cremations - Mashpee74 Algonquin Ave, Mashpee, MA 02649
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Chapman Funerals & Cremations - Mashpee74 Algonquin Ave, Mashpee, MA 02649
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