Richard G. Shoup
July 30, 1943 - July 18, 2015
Resident of San Jose
Richard (Dick) Shoup, computer graphics pioneer, passed away peacefully at his San Jose home on July 18, after a long battle with lung cancer.
Born July 30, 1943, Dick was a native of western Pennsylvania. He earned a BSEE and a Ph.D. in Computer Science from Carnegie Mellon University. His Ph.D. thesis was the first to explore programmable logic and reconfigurable hardware, now widely used in computers and consumer electronics. Dick was one of the first employees at Xerox Palo Alto Research Center, where he developed the SuperPaint system, one of the first to use computer animation in television and movies. He received both an Emmy and an Academy Award for this foundational work. In 1979, he left Xerox to found Aurora Systems, a video graphics and animation company. Dick later worked for Interval Research Corporation in Palo Alto and founded the Boundary Institute to further explore a lifelong interest in physics and parapsychology.
An avid musician in his spare time, Dick played jazz trombone for many years in various Big Bands throughout the Bay Area.
Dick was most proud of his family. He leaves behind a wife, Nancy, of San Jose, and four children, son Randall of Pacifica, son Eric and wife Christina of San Mateo, son Alexander of San Jose; and daughter, Celanie, of Pittsburgh, PA. He is also survived by four wonderful grandchildren and a sister, Judith Sharp of Santa Cruz.
A Celebration of Life Service will be held at 1pm on Sunday, August 23 at the Computer History Museum, 1401 N Shoreline Blvd, Mountain View.
In lieu of flowers, please consider a memorial donation to the thoracic oncology research fund of Dr. Joel Neal, Stanford Cancer Institute. Please indicate that gifts are in the memory of Richard Shoup for Joel Neal Research-GHBYM. Make checks payable to Stanford University and mail to Stanford University Development Services. P.O. Box 20466, Stanford, CA, 94309-0466, or go online to https://makeagift.stanford.edu.

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

Published by San Jose Mercury News/San Mateo County Times on Jul. 26, 2015.

Memories and Condolences
for Richard Shoup

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10 Entries

Robert Garcia

September 25, 2018

Thanks for Being a Wonderful CoWorker and Tennis Partner at Interval Research. Always enjoyed your Video Contributions at our Meetings. Blessings, Richard, to Your Family. Warmly, Robert Garcia.

Jenny Dana

July 28, 2015

So many amazing technical contributions to computer graphics and other fields. His pioneering work attracted me to CG and I was beyond thrilled to have the opportunity to be at Interval with him. A wonderful person who will be fondly remembered by all. Rest in Peace.

Tom Ngo

July 27, 2015

I spent a fair amount of time with Dick at Interval. I can still hear his voice and cadence in my head, bringing to life the practical power that comes from elegance in technology, and sprinkling every interaction with an avuncular good humor. He set a tone that helped make Interval a worthwhile place to be.

Peggy Pedersen

July 27, 2015

Prayers are with your family. God bless!

July 27, 2015

Nancy,

My sincere condolences to you and your family at this time. May you all be comforted.

Robert Cunningham

Diana Richey

July 26, 2015

DYour dad was an amazing person and very accomplished. Sounds like he made lots of contributions to his industry. He sounds multi-talented. You had a great mentor. So sorry for your loss to you and your family.

Mike Humphrey

July 26, 2015

Dick will be missed. I've played trombone with Dick in many bands going back to Full Faith & Credit in the 1970's, Leratones, DeAnza bands, ... We shared many music & computer adventures: e.g., we once brought our trombones with us to a computer graphics convention in Las Vegas. One evening after the daily grind we ventured out to find Carl Fontana, at whatever club he might be - we knew he wasn't playing in a show band then. We joked that this was our research project for the day. We finally found him at the Black Magic, where Dick attempted to get him play, but Fontana wasn't interested that day - just wanted to drink. Another occasion, a lot of fun: Steve Tyler, Dick & I played some trombone pieces from the Hollywood Trombones book for a Xmas office celebration at Interval in Palo Alto. He handled his illness with his typical intelligence & determination. Dick was a long-time friend & I'll miss him.