www.ucsc.edu/news_events/press_releases/archive/99-00/10-99/huffman.htm
Jim Burns, 831/459-2495 Eminent UCSC computer scientist David Huffman dies at age 74 'Huffman Codes' used in fax machines, modems, other applications involving the compression of data FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE SANTA CRUZ, CA--David A. Huffman, the founding faculty member of the Computer Science Department at the University of California, Santa Cruz, and a pioneer in the field, died at a local hospital on Thursday, October 7, after a 10-month battle with cancer. Huffman is probably best known for the development of the Huffman Coding Procedure, the result of a term paper he wrote while a graduate student at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). In 1967, he came to UC Santa Cruz as the founding faculty member of the Computer Science Department. He played a major role in the development of the department's academic programs and the hiring of its faculty, and served as chair from 1970 to 1973. He retired in 1994, but remained active until recently as an emeritus professor, teaching information theory and signal analysis courses. Huffman made important contributions in many different areas, including information theory and coding, signal designs for radar and communications applications, and design procedures for asynchronous logical circuits. As an outgrowth of his work on the mathematical properties of "zero curvature" surfaces, Huffman developed his own techniques for folding paper into unusual sculptured shapes. Huffman's accomplishments earned him numerous awards and honors. Hamming Medal from the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) in recognition of his exceptional contributions to information sciences. Levy Medal of the Franklin Institute for his doctoral thesis on sequential switching circuits, a Distinguished Alumnus Award from Ohio State University, and the W. He was a charter recipient of the Computer Pioneer Award from the IEEE Computer Society, and he received a Golden Jubilee Award for Technological Innovation from the IEEE Information Theory Society in 1998. Navy as a radar maintenance officer on a destroyer that helped to clear mines in Japanese and Chinese waters after World War II. David Huffman is survived by his wife, Marilyn Huffman, of Santa Cruz; At the family's request, contributions in David Huffman's name may be made to the Hospice Caring Project of Santa Cruz County or the American Cancer Society, Santa Cruz Chapter. In addition, a memorial fund has been established at UC Santa Cruz in David Huffman's name. Donations should be made payable to the UCSC Foundation and sent to the Development Office, Jack Baskin School of Engineering, UC Santa Cruz, 1156 High Street, Santa Cruz, CA 95064.
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