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1904-1995

Father of the Digital Computer

George Robert Stibitz was born on April 30, 1904, in York, Pennsylvania. He showed an early interest in science and mathematics, and he built his first calculator at the age of 12. He attended Denison University, where he met his future wife, Elizabeth. After graduating from Denison, Stibitz worked as a technician at General Electric before attending Union College and Cornell University.

After receiving his Ph.D. from Cornell, Stibitz joined the research staff at Bell Labs, where he began working on the development of digital computers. In 1940, he built the Complex Number Calculator, which was a relay-based computer that could perform complex mathematical operations. The Complex Number Calculator was a major breakthrough in the development of digital computers, and it helped to pave the way for the development of the first electronic computers.

Stibitz continued his work on digital computers at Bell Labs, and he made many other significant contributions to the field. He was also a pioneer in the field of computer networking, and he helped to develop the first computer network, the Teletype Network.

Stibitz retired from Bell Labs in 1965, but he continued to be active in the field of computing. He served as a consultant to many companies and organizations, and he was a vocal advocate for the use of computers in education.

Stibitz died on January 31, 1995, at the age of 90. He was a brilliant scientist and engineer who made significant contributions to the field of computing. He is considered one of the fathers of the digital computer, and his work has had a profound impact on the world.