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Gale Aguilar Obituary
1932-2021
Resident of Gilroy
Computer industry pioneer Gale Aguilar died March 16 at his vineyard in Gilroy, CA. He was raised in Los Angeles and cherished his California heritage – his family had arrived in the 18th century. He attended San Fernando High and Cal State LA and joined IBM in 1955 as a field engineer. He rose through the ranks to become a senior leader and corporate strategist, on the cutting edge of the interface between the technical community, product developers and the customer. As IBM's representative to aerospace he helped bring power computing into the space program. He was a key contributor to the introduction of the IBM 360 in 1964, considered a watershed moment for both the company and the industry. He was not only instrumental in building the company but in changing the direction of large systems development for the industry. After retiring he joined Prime Computers as Vice President.
After serving as senior executive to two Fortune 500 companies, and on the Boards of multiple companies listed on NYSE, American and NASDAQ exchanges, he transitioned to Silicon Valley. There he helped shape the transformation of the industry and the shifting interface between hardware and software development. He joined Stardent as Vice President; Sf2 as CEO; Mitem as President; 2Phase as CEO, and Force Protection as President and CEO. An inventor, he developed a 1999 patent for improving storing of data in a redundant array of mass storage devices. He also became a mentor to both individuals and companies, most recently to Fusion Energy.
He was preceded in death by Alice, his wife of 66 years, and survived by sister Barbara Menard; daughters Karen (John G. Fox) and Barbara; son Robert (Ellen); and grandchildren Alyssa and Jason.
The family will hold a service when deemed safe. Habing Family Funeral Home will assist the family.
View the online memorial for Gale Ramon Aguilar
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Memories and Condolences
for Gale Aguilar
Sponsored by San Jose Mercury News.
6 Entries
Daniel Alfred Lundin Jr
November 17, 2021
Hi Uncle Gail I wanted to tell you that although I may not have met you. I feel like I did known you with how my great grandparents Barbara and Ralph Menard talked about you and then told me stories about you Accomplishments I could admit the things I have heard. I feel to me your a HERO not a Legend. I would like to thank you for your service I feel so Blessed. As well as Inspired by your work that I just have to thank you for all of your services with the many ways you have helped people not just your family, or this country, but the entire world. With all of your knowledge and I think it would be near impossible to top you thank you superhero. I just hope now that wherever you are that it is everything you had dreamed of and more.
LOVE you uncle Gale from your nephew Daniel Alfred Lundin JR.
Andrina Todus
November 9, 2021
So Sorry to hear about a cousin dying.
Kathy White
May 31, 2021
You were very good to me. Such a pleasant Uncle. You are missed. Love you Uncle Gale
VICTOR (Dale) CLANAHAN
May 31, 2021
I'm terribly saddened to read of Gale's passing. I worked with Gale during his assignment to the LA Times from 1955-1960. I am proud to say we were like brothers in that we went water skiing all over California, flying to Vegas, and a recuperation period at his San Fernando home from an 1956 Appendix operation. I was twenty years of age at the time. Gale is , and always will be at the top of my list as the most impressive, brilliant and kindly person I have ever met. God bless him and my deep condolences to the family.
May 28, 2021
May God bless you and your family in this time of sorrow.
May 28, 2021
May God bless you and your family in this time of sorrow.
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