Gerald J. Popek

POPEK, Gerald J. Passed away on July 20, 2008 at his home in Bel Air, after a courageous battle with stomach cancer. He was 61. Dr. Popek received his B.S. in nuclear engineering from New York University in 1968 and his M.S. and Ph.D. from Harvard University in applied mathematics in 1973. He joined the UCLA faculty in the Computer Science Department and had a distinguished 20-year career as a leader in computer security. He was an Internet pioneer and a world-class technology principal who played a key role in software development and networking. Dr. Popek was founder and chairman of Locus Computing Corporation, and he held the position of Chief Technology Officer at CarsDirect.com, Platinum Technology, Inc., and most recently, United Online. He is survived by his wife, Paulene and two children, Sarah and Darren. His dedication to education and making things work will be missed by his colleagues, family, and friends, but the greater loss will be his warm, engaging, and supportive presence for those who knew him. A memorial service will be held at the UCLA Faculty Center on September 21, 2008 from 2-4 p.m. In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to the Gerald J. Popek Scholarship Fund at UCLA Engineering. Please contact jerryrsvp@support.ucla.edu for reservations for the memorial service or information about the scholarship fund. You may also contact Sukhie Bal at the UCLA Engineering Office of External Affairs at (310) 206-5707.