Analog Designer Bob Pease Dies In Car Crash

EdwinFreed writes "It's being widely reported that Bob Pease, well known analog circuit designer and author of Pease Porridge, has died in a car accident. He reportedly was driving alone in his 1969 Beetle and failed to negotiate a turn."

Died in a '69 Beetle

[Alien Being]

It sounds like he was a brilliant EE but, if he was driving one of those things, then he was a damned fool when it came to ME and physics.

Farewell Bob, we'll miss you...

[jenningsthecat]

As an analog designer, I've come to appreciate Bob's many contributions over the years. He was a good writer and a terrific engineer, and he knew both theory and hands-on practice better than most of us. He could explain complex concepts in simple language, and it seemed he was a no-nonsense kind of guy yet had a good sense of humour. The electronics field, from hobbyists, to other engineers, to semiconductor companies, owes him a debt of gratitude. He will be missed.

Re:No seatbelt

[Anonymous Coward]

Are you serious? First, seatbelts weren't standard in 1969 Beetles. Second, if you did have them, using them was probably more of a risk than not. Third, the article states he wasn't wearing his seatbelt because in this nanny-state day and age, they are almost obligated to state stupid useless facts to coax the rest of us lemmings into following statistically good practices -- but it does not say if it was a factor in his death. He hit a tree dead on in a tiny lightweight 42-ish year old car with a rear mounted engine. A 1969 Beetle has you sitting sharply upright beneath a huge steering wheel with your nose in the windshield. It's far far more likely that he was crushed rather than ejected. I doubt a seatbelt have prevented that.

The risk was driving, or enjoying antique/classic automobiles, or perhaps driving too fast. Sure, seatbelts are a good idea, but don't be a friggin nanny.

Re:Sad Day

[Canonical Coward]

Bob was the quintessential curmudgeon and he had the chops and credentials to do it well. But he was never spiteful or hateful.

He truly did dislike engineers who didn't make smoke and relied on Spice simulations to design things, but he knew what he was talking about. His floobydust stories were spot on. I just had the pleasure of rereading his take on the Taguchi method.

I never got to meet him, but I did manage once or twice to exchange mail. His column was the first thing I looked for, and his books are legend.

Goodbye Bob. Thank you Pease family for sharing him with us.

Re:No seatbelt

[c41rn]

Indeed. Pease crashed on Pierce Rd. in Saratoga and I had a very close call myself several years back near the intersection of Pierce Rd. and Hwy 9 in my 1967 VW Karmann Ghia, so I have some experience here. The early VWs (up to 1969 for the Ghia, and I think '70 for the Beetles) had swing axle rear ends that jack up the rear end in turns so that the tires are riding on their edges. Since the engines are in the back, this causes the car to lose control very quickly on tight turns like those on Pierce Rd. and Hwy 9. After '69/70 or so, VW put IRS in their vehicles to fix this problem, keeping the wheels relatively perpendicular to the road in turns.

IIRC, it was the swing axle rear ends in the Corvairs that led to Nader's "Unsafe at any speed" suit.

This is a bit off topic, but having a technical discussion about the cause of the crash is probably what Pease would do too ;) Rest in peace.

Re:Died in a '69 Beetle

[retchdog]

a ridiculous godwin is a good godwin. and it was kind of meant as a joke on the heated trolling/discussion below regarding "seatbelts: useless, or nanny state murder device?"

Re:Farewell Bob, we'll miss you...

[kubitus]

will be remembered not only for his electronics - also he outspoke that if you continue to neglect engineers, young talent will trun away from engineering. ( See Obamas plans to get more engineers )

Re:Died in a '69 Beetle

[xaxa]

You're a damned fool in making assumptions. There's nothing out there so far (else post links) that indicates that seat belts (or their lack) played any role in the outcome. Shut up.

You've made four comments saying pretty much the same thing. Maybe you should close the window and do something else, there's no point getting stressed over a Slashdot comment (or four).

Also, if you don't wear a seatbelt I strongly suggest you reconsider that decision. At the very least, you must wear one when sitting in the back, as that will prevent you from crushing the person in the front seat in a collision.