Bernard "Bernie" Vonderschmitt

Bernard (Bernie) Vonderschmitt On a corn farm in Jasper, Indiana, Bernie was born the youngest of ten children on October 14, 1923. Bernie died at the age of 80 on June 9, 2004 due to complications from a stroke. Bernie is survived by his beloved wife Theresa. Known throughout the high-tech industry for his accomplishments, Bernie began his illustrious career as an electrical engineer in the semiconductor industry at RCA, where he received the David Sarnoff award in recognition for his contribution to the invention of the color television. In 1984 at the age of 60, shortly after obtaining his MBA, Bernie co-founded Xilinx, Inc. of San Jose. Bernie was instrumental in guiding Xilinx from a Silicon Valley startup to the billion-dollar plus international business it is today. Xilinx employs more than 2800 people and thanks to Bernie's vision and humanistic leadership style, Xilinx is ranked one of Fortune's Best Places to Work and is one of the largest semiconductor suppliers in the world today. Bernie is remembered throughout Xilinx and the industry as humble, kind, calm and the kind of leader who inspires others to greatness and prefers the shadows. Throughout his career Bernie was honored with numerous awards, including the 2002 Fabless Semiconductor Association (FSA) Dr. Morris Chang Exemplary Leadership Award. Bernie is also credited with pioneering the fabless semiconductor model adopted by many leading semiconductor companies around the world. Despite his humble beginnings in a one room school house, Bernie went on to earn a bachelors in electrical engineering from the Rose Hulman Institute of Technology in Terre Haute, Ind., a masters in electrical engineering from the Moore School of Engineering at the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia, and an MBA from Rider University in Lawrenceville, NJ In addition to his many contributions to the semiconductor industry, Bernie gave generously to the community, including his alma mater, the Rose Hulman Institute of Technology, the Palo Alto Medical Foundation, the Santa Clara County Children's Shelter and the Humane Society. Private funeral services were held in Jasper, Indiana in June. A Memorial Mass will be held this weekend at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, July 31 at St. Lucy's Church, 2350 Winchester Boulevard, Campbell, California 95008. Those wishing to honor Bernie are asked to send donations to the Silicon Valley Children's Fund, 4425 Union Avenue, San Jose, CA 95124 or the Dubois County Humane Society, P.O. Box 408, Jasper, IN 47547.