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Andrew Kay

1919 - 2014

Andrew Kay obituary, 1919-2014, Vista, CA

BORN

1919

DIED

2014

FUNERAL HOME

Andrew Kay Obituary

Kay, Andrew 01/22/1919 ~ 08/28/2014 VISTA, CA -- Andrew Francis Kay, father, grandfather and great grandfather, passed from this life into paradise on August 28, 2014 at the age of 95. Born Andrew Francis Kopischiansky on January 22, 1919 to Fyodor (Frank) Kopischiansky and Julia Halkovich in Akron, Ohio, Andy grew up speaking a Russian dialect called Lemko in Clifton, New Jersey. Andy loved learning from the beginning and throughout his life. He began learning English only after entering the first grade. Rather than playing with other kids during recess or lunch break, he would sit and read with a large rock handy to deter any mischief from other boys. One day in the middle of sixth grade, the principal caught him reading a high school math book, took him to his office, and with one look at his grades promoted him to the seventh grade. Then half way through the eighth grade he was promoted again to the ninth grade. This accelerated his graduation from high school just prior to his seventeenth birthday. With substantial sacrifice and financial support of his parents and younger brother, Andy graduated from MIT in 1940. The same year he married his wife, Mary Catherine Marble, and started working for Bendix in the defense industry. After working for Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, CA, Andy moved his family to Del Mar, CA in 1949 to help his long time mentor and employer Bill Jack start Bill Jack Scientific Instruments Co. where later he became VP of engineering in Solana Beach. Already known professionally as Mr. K., Andy and the whole family changed their last name to Kay that same year. This worked well for his entrepreneurial spirit, where Andy Kay launched out on his own to design electronic equipment for the military or test an idea for an improved fishhook lure. His greatest development came in 1952 where in a rented room in the 17th street beachside Del Mar Motel, Andy invented the Digital Volt Meter. The Digital Volt Meter (DVM) introduced three new innovations for the first time, an automatic voltage polarity switch, automatic voltage decade switch, and of course replacing the needle dial with a digital display all with accuracy to 0.1%. The same year Andy started Non-Linear Systems (NLS) to market and sell DVMs for $2,300 (~$20,600 today) "leading the electronics industry into the digital revolution"* according to Electronics Design magazine. In 1962, famed psychologist, Abraham Maslow, spent his sabbatical studying NLS and its leading edge work environment and Andy's "enlightened management"* from which he later published Eupsychian Management. In 1979, Andy saw that personal computer circuit boards were not as complex as the top of the line instruments NLS was manufacturing decided to get into the personal computer business with Kaypro II, which combined monitor, disk drives and motherboard into one portable unit that was still affordable to the masses. By 1983, NLS was renamed Kaypro, went public, and became the fifth largest PC manufacturer in the world with revenues peaking at $125 million. In 1998, Andy Kay was inducted into the Computer Museum of America Hall of Fame for his many contributions to the electronics industry. Andy continued pursuing his entrepreneurial passion of making and selling PCs under the name Kay Computers until 2010. When Andy was not pursuing business ventures in the electronics industry, he was heavily involved in education. He served as a San Dieguito School Board Trustee from 1955 to 1970 and as a member of the Board of Directors of Johnson O'Connor Research Foundation, Inc., where he pursued the advancement of education with particular attention to the development of a "thinking vocabulary" as a basic component of a successful life. Andy was also a founding member of Del Mar, CA Rotary Club in 1954. Andy developed a firm faith in God. He enjoyed studying the Bible and attending the Rancho Santa Fe Village Church. In a televised interview with MIT Enterprise Forum, Andy was asked, what was his greatest accomplishment, to which he emphatically responded, "My family!"* Andy lost his beautiful wife, Mary in 1996 and at 95, he outlived almost all of his colleagues and friends. Andy will be deeply missed by Marge Stokes, a friend of 70 years and by the family he leaves behind, Brother Steve, four children, Allan, David, Janice, and Nancy, 14 grandchildren, and 26 great- grandchildren. Open Memorial Services: Saturday, September 6th, at 10 a.m. at Rancho Santa Fe Village Church.

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

Published by San Diego Union-Tribune on Sep. 3, 2014.

Memories and Condolences
for Andrew Kay

Sponsored by El Camino Memorial – Sorrento Valley and El Camino Memorial Park and Mortuaries (Sorrento Valley).

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November 17, 2014

Blessing to Mr. & Mrs. Kay. My sincere condolences to Allen, David, Janice and Nancy. My family will always remember the friendship that they had with our father Lonnie and be very grateful to Mr. Andy and Mrs. Mary Kay.
E. L.

David Hadden

October 29, 2014

Andy personally gave me my first job in electronics. I was scheduled to spend the summer in "resistor winding" he saw me in John Lehotsky's office interviewing for a summer job and said, "Don't I know you?" I said I didn't think so. He must have had a photographic memory because he said, "I saw your picture in the Telescope (Palomar JC school paper) for your work with the local radio station. John, put dave in the QC lab with Karl Nommesen."

I'd never been much of a student and planned to join the army after high school. Andy's having recognized me for a picture in a JC paper completely changed my life.

David Hadden
San Dieguito Union High class of 1958
Retired entrepreneur
Los Altos, CA

John Minteer

September 15, 2014

My name is John Minteer. I am the VP of IT for Cubic Corporation. We purchased many computers from Andy over the years. He built a quality product and was great to deal with.

I came to know Andy over the many lunches we had together. He was a very impressive man and helped so many children (including my children) learn a better vocabulary.

Having lunch with Andy was always a unique experience as his interests were broad and his intellect first rate.

His family often was what he talked about the most. He was very proud of each and every one of you. Thank you for sharing your father with me. He made a very positive impact on my family and I am sure many other families.

My you rest in Peace Andy

John Minteer

Sincerely

John Minteer

Tomas Firle

September 13, 2014

In the early 1960's Andy Kay gave the land on which is now the UU Fellowship of San Dieguito. I got involved, helped building, but more: Andy invited innovators Abraham Maslow, Carl Rogers, and others, to broaden the community's vision and insisted of serving social justice. Andy and Mary Kay believed in inclusivity.
It changed my life.

carol mason

September 12, 2014

I'm grateful for having known Andy and Mary as cross- the- street neighbors on Serpentine Dr. He was gracious and dynamic and a generous benefactor in the founding of the Unitarian Fellowship of San Dieguito. Because of his quest for learning we were exposed to creatve business practices, design theories, educational advancement and, of course, vocabulary building. Thanks, Andy!

September 12, 2014

My brother Mark Watson worked at Kaypro in Solana Beach. He passed away last month. He was 58

Sande Lannon

September 5, 2014

Mr. Kay was a special man with a kind heart. I enjoyed working for him at Kaypro along with Grampa Kay and Boots. Some of my fondest life memories are from those days, like no others. My sincere condolences to the family.

George Spalding III

September 5, 2014

Andy spent his whole life running on premium. I have no doubt he was planning his next venture when he moved on.

September 4, 2014

My heartfelt condolensces to the Kay family. I enjoyed working with Andy at Kaypro and learned so much about technology, sales , life and teamwork. I will never forget the fabulous juices! Thank you Andy x Elaine Montemarano

John H. Chalmers

September 4, 2014

My sincerest condolences to the family of this remarkable man. Andy Kay and his wife were friends of my parents when we lived in Del Mar and I worked summers as a college student at Non-Linear Systems when it was still at the Del Mar Airport site. As I recall, there were at most two levels of management between me and Mr. Kay when I was just an engineering aide writing manuals for the latest versions of the Digital Voltmeter or trying to analyse its behavior. I've often thought I should have stuck with electrical engineering, but instead became a biological scientist in academia and industry. Working for Andy at NLS was the best work experience I had, because of his management skills and openness to new ideas.

Kimberly DeFilippis

September 4, 2014

What a delightful man and a great humanitarian. Mr. Kay carried himself regally, had a stern look and a heart of gold. He was an inspiration.

lori

September 4, 2014

My sincere condolences to the family. May you find comfort by drawing close to God during this difficult time. James 4 : 8

September 3, 2014

Andy was one of the most remarkable human beings I ever had the pleasure to spend time with both socially and related to his work. A truly wonderful human being who helped so many others. the world is lessened by his departure.

William Gladstone

Doug Johnson

September 3, 2014

I remember Andy Kay as a very compassionate caring employer and exceptional man. Andy was my best employer and a friend. He leaves behind a wonderful family legacy and will be missed on this earth. My Condolences to the family of this Great Man. Doug Johnson

September 3, 2014

I remember Andy Kay well starting in 1957 at the Bendix Eclipse Pioneer company in Teterboro NJ. He made a major sale of Nonlinear Digital voltmeters model 410 to us. In the early 1960s when I was employed by General Dynamics in San Diego we met again. He was a very impressive role model for us young engineers and helped many of his new employees start careers in the electronics . world. Yes like Andy I was an electronics engineer from Paterson NJ and my wife had a Russian father. My condolences to the family of a fine gentleman and friend from long ago. Ernest Bellantoni

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Aug

30

Memorial service

10:00 a.m.

Rancho Santa Fe Village Church

CA

Funeral services provided by:

El Camino Memorial – Sorrento Valley and El Camino Memorial Park

5600 Carroll Canyon Rd, San Diego, CA 92121

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