David Arthur Ault Ph.D.

David Arthur AULT, Ph.D. David Arthur Ault was born August 6, 1940 in Wenatchee, Chelan County, Washington and passed away unexpect edly on Monday, March 24, 2008 in Seat tle, King County, Washington at the age of 67. He was the son of George Foster Ault of Edmonds and Ruth Genevieve (Woodruff) Ault of Ritzville. He graduated from Seattle's Roosevelt High School in 1958 where he was active in Sea Explorers, swimming, and basketball. He did his undergraduate and graduate work at Western Washing ton State College (now University), receiving his Master of Arts degree in Mathematics in 1966. In 1970, he was granted his doctorate in Computer Science at Pennsylvania State Universi ty and then went on to teach in the East. He taught at Virginia Tech University in Blacksburg, Virginia before moving to San Diego and then returning to the Pacific Northwest. He was a member of the Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers and was Program Director of the Northwest Artificial Intelligence Group. A longtime activist in the gender-rights movement, he participated in trying to ratify the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) to the U.S. Constitution. He was especially active as a men's rights advo cate in Men's Rights, Inc. which promot ed equal rights for both men and women. He was a member of the Men's Discus sion Group at University Unitarian Church. A lover of blue grass music, he enjoyed attending festivals and was a member of the Puget Sound Traditional Jazz Society. His primary love was for genealogy and he was made an Honorary Life Member of the Seattle Genealogical Society for his many contributions to both SGS and the genealogical community in the Northwest. He chaired the Society's Computer Interest Group, the oldest in the United States, and was a leader in the Canadian Interest Group. He also co- chaired the Massachusetts, Connecticut, and Rhode Island State focus groups. Dave was a member and contributor to the Seattle TMG Users Group (The Mas ter Genealogist is a computer program for managing genealogical records.) His contributions to the genealogical community are too many to mention, but the Eastside Genealogical Society, of which he was also a member, the Fiske Genealogical Library, and the Sno-Isle Genealogical Society all will miss his willingness to help in any way he was needed. He was a popular lecturer throughout the Pacific Northwest. His computer skills endeared him to his friends and Dave was generous with his time and talents in helping the techno logically-challenged. Many will miss their favorite "computer guru" who was known for his wit and wisdom. Dave never met a stranger; his welcoming ways warmed many meetings. He was always willing to lend his knowledge, expertise, and his computer equipment to whatever task was at hand; his kind spirit was always a addition to every meeting and event. He was an avid researcher on his many New England families and was current ly studying the history of his ancestor, Stephen Hopkins, who came to Massa chusetts on the Mayflower in 1620. He was actively researching the Matteson family. He was also of Irish and Scottish heritage and was a member of the Clans MacLachlan and Gunn. For many years, he participated in the Pacific Northwest Scottish Highland Games. He was also descended from Revolutionary War patriots as well as Loyalists who fled to Canada. In the past few years, he enjoyed traveling on research trips back to the Midwest and East and attending national family reunions. He is survived by his sister, Marion Ault of Portland, Oregon; his stepfather, John Perry Grove of Edmonds; numer ous cousins, including Marilisa Ham mock Prevatt of Michigan; and many close friends including, Bill Pirkle, Steve Gilb, Jan Linden, and Jean Roth. Memorials are suggested to the David Ault Memorial Fund (c/o The Seattle Genealogical Society at P.O. Box 15329, Seattle, WA 98115-0329, Attn: Donald Kunz, Treasurer) which will support on going research resources in his areas of interest. A Celebration of Life service will be held at 1:30 p.m. Sunday, April 6, 2008 at the Nordic Heritage Museum in Ballard, 3014 NW 67th Street, Seattle, (206) 789- 5707. [Seattle Metro #17 from Downtown and #44 from the University District.] Interment will be in the family plot at the historic Edmonds Memorial Cemetery.