I regret that I am so late in learning about Scott's passing. But the shock of this news knows no time. In doing some research on the net, I came across this fantastic memorial of Scott. As I read, the shock in me sank deeper.

I knew Scott at Ohio State University...we were both graduate students together, studying with Dr. Moellering amongst others. He was so smart...so good in computer cartographics. How new the things you can do with computers were! Scott was on top of it all. Scott came to Maryland before I did to work with Computer Sciences Corporation. I came to work at CSC in 1980, after him. They liked him and they knew Scott and I knew each other. I always felt that combination made it easy for me. He took me under his wing and taught me the tasks that I had to perform at GSFC: Recreate the Nimbus 7 CZCS image on the IBM 360/81. I'll never forget that hot 1980 summer.

I saw Scott's kids when they were very young...He met my wife-to-be. Then in 1981, we both moved on to new tasks, with the Reagan NASA program cuts. Everything was so new and changes happened so fast. I saw Scott a couple of times right after that but not since. I often thought of Scott, and figured I would tun into him again. I did not know he was just down the road at UMd, and God, I never thought I would find him this way.

Scott: You're the real friend. You got me started here at NASA. Thank you for being a friend.

Steve Kempler

Scott in fact was able to deal with the most obscure problems in computing. I had just convinced NASA to fund the acquisition of an HP-1000 mini-computer (the door stop in LGRSS today) to support our research. Actually figuring out how to make this thing work, along with all of the various home-grown attachments which had been developed at GSFC, was more than I could handle. Scott prodded and poked at this device until he got it to work. To this day I am still uncertain what Scott did to make this work. Maybe it was the Ouija board?

Once we realized that HP-1000's were not the future, Scott developed the design for a networked UNIX environment for the Department. This was before the concept of scalable computing was really understood. Nevertheless that was the design he produced. We continue to benefit significantly from this careful and thoughtful design.

Scott was more than an employee and colleague for me. He was a close personal friend. We often discussed our shared love of sailing and Scott finally convinced my wife that we could handle a cruising boat on the Chesapeake. We spent many glorious days on the Bay with Scott and Catherine and will sorely miss Scott's strong hands on the rigging.

Quite honestly Scott's optimism and enthusiasm for life was infectious and often kept me sane through hard times. I expect his memory will continue that strong support in the future.

S.N.G.

Coming into the department for me was diving into the deep end of PCI and the AVHRR dataset. Without Scott's guidance and help I could not have accomplished the tasks of my job. Scott took extra time to help this neophyte get on with his assigned project, and for that I am grateful. Scott was also a good friend and I miss him, his warmth and kindness. Scott loved music, but did not share my penchant for punk rock. We were discussing this one day and he recounted a business trip to Souix Falls. He had been travelling with his company's work group, and in the evening one of the women in the group wanted to go to a punk/new-wave club, since it was her birthday. They were actually able to find two such clubs in Sioux Falls, of which the second one proved to be acceptable. The woman danced while her co-workers drank, and eventually she asked Scott to dance with her. This music scene was not exactly Scott's cup of tea, but he felt bad that here it was her birthday and she was dancing alone. So he got up to dance, and as they were heading for the dance floor Scott recalled that he had taken a clogging workshop the week before. No problem. Scott recounted to me with relish how he had proceeded to astonish the patrons of this trendy establishment by clogging his way through a series of songs. That was Scott all over, his humor, his empathy, and his individuality.

Jonathan Haskett

Scott presided over one of the most rapid and dramatic expansions I have ever seen. He came to us to look after one HP1000 computer (yes, the one that now functions as a door stop in the lab) and left us with over 60 high-end workstations, 3 hubs, ATM communications, AFS etc etc. (thanks, Scott! Sorry I can't return the favor). This he did with rare humor and skill. Only once did I ever see anything get to him (yes, it was FREG). In a frenzied Department he was a constant, quiet pool of refreshment. Well, until he got on a boat. Then it was a different matter. I never saw such a transformation to taught activity. I will miss him and wish his family and friends well.

Steve Prince

To Scott I say Hail Fellow, Well Met. I could not believe the good fortune about ten years ago when Scott approached me to say he was interested in the possibility of a job in our department. Not only did we have an opening for him a couple of years later, but he accepted a pay-cut, came, and, as one says, the rest is history. Indeed it was very good fortune for us to have Scott as a very valuable team member enduring persistent interruptions and questions for so long with so admirable a demeanor. No wonder he knew what to do so well and where he was - he was a mathematician!!! Scott, I know you missed my summer tapas parties because you had better things to do, but I will still invite you back.

Derek Thompson

Scott was a wonderful person to work with. I remember my first introduction to the UNIX system in the department (before they were made available in the open lab). Scott was so enthusiastic about my flailing attempts to use UNIX commands that I felt for sure I must be a budding programmer. (Alas!) Later, as a part of the department's computing support team, he complimented me by refering to me as one of the "systems guys" - unnecessarily going on to explain that it was all right in that context to refer to me as a "guy".

It is hard to believe that cancer could conquer Scott, especially when he overcame a massive heart attack only a couple of years before. I miss him.

Teri Swears

I met Scott in the summer of 1991, I was looking for a decent summer job in my rerun as a college student and he was looking for a C-programmer. So, sitting in his little office in LeFrak I handed him my one letter of reference from my one programming instructor. He read it and commented, "He says you have a sense of humor, I think that's important." I pointed out to him that I knew C (one course's worth) and a little basic, but no Fortran. When I actually started working for him a few days later, the first job he gave me was to rewrite a Fortran program for Lara Prihodko. Actually, he gave me a day to read up on Fortran first.

But he was pretty much like that, at least to me. Gave me challenges and believed I could accomplish them. At the end, of the summer he hired me part-time for the year, and somewhere in there I needed a place to spend one night a week for awhile, so he and Catherine put me up.

Frequently Scott and I thought quite differently about things - couldn't even approach problems from the same direction - but no matter how frustrating it got, I knew I could tell him exactly what I thought (and sometimes pretty forcefully, also.) and somehow we would get along.

When the assistant systems analyst position was created in 1992 and the first round of advertising produced no usable candidates, I asked Scott if I could be hired for the job (the pay was not as good then as now, but still a whole lot better than GRA pay). He looked at me and said, "You don't know anything about it, but I know you are trainable."

Before they created the assistant position, there were times when Scott was just like the boy with the golden goose - he'd be in the hallway with a trail of pesky "users" demanding "fix my computer", "how do I ..."," can you mount a disk for me" ... It drove him crazy, but he had the uncanny ability to walk around a corner and vanish into thin air.

He wasn't religious, but he was able to enjoy discussing it and, even, participating with Catherine. He also enjoyed the occasional odd-joke about it, as when I had been studiously learning Unix, and one day, quite against my own desire, I felt stongly compelled to pray. Later, I told him, the first thought I had was "Man, those prayer daemons must be working over time." He thought it was pretty funny.

Besides being a boss, he was also a friend. When I needed a little perspective on some personal questions, he often had good advice. I sometimes even took it, before I messed things up. And when things got rough, he could just listen.

We did share a couple of "good" stories about our work together. Whenever a user would get too discouraged about their ineptitude I would cheerfully tell them about the time Scott accidentally erased the operating system off the file server, in the middle of the afternoon, and then suddenly remembered that he had an appointment somewhere and left me in the midst of the slowly dying computer system. That always made the poor user feel better. Of course, if Scott was standing there he usually felt compelled to raise the user's self-esteem a little more by pointing out that his assistant systems guy (me) had once accidentally erased a faculty member's home directory.

Whoever chose the wonderful picture for the webpage did a fine job. Scott loved to sail. Can we get a little banjo music to go with it?

Even though I am away from the department, things happen that I want to share with him, and occasionally on my weekly visits, I would drop by and we could swap stories. Just this morning, in fact, I wanted his advice on something.

Andy Rogers

No problem was too big, or too small, for Scott. No question was too dumb. No request was unworthy of his attention. Scott was dealt an unlucky hand, though it was against his grain to see it that way. Just a few weeks ago he was talking about how chemotherapy isn't really all that bad. He was always smiling and calm, even when the system was crashing around him. He took us through countless versions of software, through lots of decisions, through Glue and our explosion in the number of workstations. But he had a way of keeping things in perspective. He knew that the computers would wait, but a perfect sailing day won't. Scott was truly special.

Ruth DeFries

To: Mrs. Turner, family, and the world,

I work in the Department of Geography and am also a full-time undergraduate. I have only known Scott for about a year and a half. In that time I found that Scott was an actual down-right good person. We developed a wonderful working relationship and I knew if I had a particular problem that was up Scott's alley he would be more than willing to help me and explain things to me in a manner in which someone of my limited abilities and talents could understand. I always came away from talking to Scott with the feeling I had learned something I did not know before. Scott would never make you feel inadequate when inquiring about a computer related issue (like a lot of computer people tend to do), or anything else for that matter. I really enjoyed his sense of humnor and marvelled at his positive outlook on life.

Aside from Scott's professional side he was a good guy and I am saddened by his passing. I do know my life has been enriched just from knowing Scott and watching him deal with his difficult illness in a manner which exhibited grace and style. Truly, God has taken a nice person and we all will be diminshed by his gain. My thoughts and prayers are with you in this time of sorrow.

Sincerely,

Joe Vanderbloemen

We were shocked and saddened to hear of Scott's untimely death. We will always remember his great spirit, his generosity, and his great sailing stories. College Park is a poorer place.

Robert and Lynda Nicholls

  Scott was a big part of why I wanted to come to work in the morning. When he got in, he would heat the tea water, and send me a note when it was boiling. Sometimes he would compose extemporaneous verse about the process:
    Tea water hot,
    Tea water cold,
    Tea water in the pot
    Nine days(?) old.
  Then I would come to his office and we would spend 20 minutes having tea and talking. That was the best part of my day. When he started getting sick and coming to work later and later, or sometimes not at all, I would wait for hours hoping we could still have tea together. Scott and I were a good team; we covered for each other and were often able to point out each other's stupid mistakes before they got to be fatal problems. Normally system administrators are loners; this is the first time I've had a colleague who was not only very good at his job, but also fun to work with. I miss him so much in so many ways.

D.J.D.

Over the past year, Scott and I exchanged tips on cranial defoliation. Although he was facing the crisis of his life, he still was willing to listen to a fellow traveler. He exemplified the fact that human dignity can transcend our mortal selves.

Mike Kearney

On many occasions Scott described himself to me as a Futurist. He believed in the future without denying the problems that may be waiting in it. I spoke with him only the Monday before he died and he was still looking towards the future. I believe that he would want us all to continue to do that.

Allen Eney

I was able to make a nameplate for Scott's door a while back. We (Diane and I) put "Scott Turner, Systems Programmer and Banjo Player" I like that kind of humour, sober and wacky at the same time. He even kept all the colored paper footprints and stuff around from when someone "trashed" his office while he was elsewhere. Said he liked them where they were, he even kept the stuff outside on his windowsill.

J.D.C.

Scott Turner was not just a great co-worker, but a wonderfully kind and giving person. Through many fun and thought-provoking conversations, I got to know Scott during my first year of grad school when I was stressed and unhappy. We'd talk about all sorts of things, but mostly I remember how nice he was to listen to my stupid complaints -- the typical "grad school is torture" rant. Rather than saying some cliche thing (which always seems thoughtless when you are on the receiving end), Scott would emphathize and give me real advice -- words to live by, essentially. The last time I spoke to Scott was over the phone about three weeks ago; I was home with my own minor (and temporary) ailment (a broken leg). I called him to get some advice on a PC purchase, we ended up talking about that uninteresting topic for less than five minutes. Instead, we were on the phone for over an hour talking about all sorts of things: philosophies of life, healing and the mind-body connection. He was truly suffering, yet, he asked me about my leg and how I was going to cope!! I said one difficult thing I had to deal with was that I need to ask for people's help so much. He said that was very difficult for him as well, but that it got easier. I know that Scott would have done anything for anyone who needed him -- he was just that kind of person. He was a giving and wise person who no doubt inspired many people. I know that he inspired me, and for that, I am grateful. Thanks Scott, I'll miss you.

Nancy Casey-McCabe

I didn't know Scott as well as I would have liked, but he was always a bright light in the department. Whenever I met him in the hall, or in the mailroom or the lunchroom, or whenever I positioned myself next to him on a meeting, my day was brighter for it. He always had a joking comment to share, or an interest to discuss -- at meetings our exchange of asides always made us giggle. I remember a recent discussion with Scott where we discussed the trials of fully automating our departmental functions (you mean they aren't already? he wondered), but we were just as likely to talk about something like a crazy piece of news or something equally irrelevant. I will sorely miss his smile, his sense of humor, and his love of life.

Jill Boberg

Scott was a great guy who's humor and great kindness will stay with everyone who knew him. In a world where most of us are in a constant hurry to finish the task at hand and move on to the next, he was one of those people who was happy to sit and talk about.. whatever.. for as long as you liked. Not that he wasn't busy (he was - and always got on top of problems fast), but I think he knew that the day-to-day interactions with people should be concerned with more than just the problem of the moment. That's what I'll take with me from my association with him - that and his incredible strength and positive attitude to the very end.

Scott Goetz

One of the first people I met at Maryland was Scott. He made me laugh. He helped me think. I immediately recognized that both his technical and personal abilities made him an anchor of strength and humanity for the department community. At times when the network was erupting and everyone was screaming around him he was able to keep his sense of humor and sensibility. I never heard him complain about his illness, even when it was obviously painful. A man of great courage and wit. I will miss our endless discussions and his constant insights. Its been strange assembling these messages of farewell and memories because I feel that he's still here.
Thanks Scott, for being part of us.

Paul Davis

Do you remember how FUNNY Scott was? Just as an example:
  Every year Safeway and Giant stores sponsor a "Computers for the Schools" program whereby people contribute their sales slips and the school they donate them to gets credit towards buying new computer equipment. Last year my kids, for whatever reason, didn't bring our slips to their schools. So the last week of the drive I brought in all my leftover grocery slips and sent out an email saying something like, "Someone in the department must collect grocery receipts. Let me know and come and get them, free."
Scott replied to me with an absolutely classic email:
  "Yes, I have been collecting grocery receipts for years. I am a member of collectors anonymous as well as several grocery receipt news groups and go to the yearly Grocery Receipt Collectors Convention, which was held in San Francisco this year.
  I have some vintange receipts from the Big Bear Supermarket Chain in Columbus, Ohio that are 20 years old. I have, of course, stored them in the approved cellophane wrappers. I am especially proud of my receipt, autographed, that was obtained from President Teddy Roosevelt when he was president. I am sure you know that he did the grocery shopping even when in the White House and enjoyed meeting fellow collectors. I got this receipt at a meeting/swap meeting and had to give up 3 Ronald Reagan receipts, as well as one from an early IBM Corp. buffet held for stockholders.
  Are you interested in trading receipts, or perhaps selling to such an interested collector as me? There is nothing quite as interesting as getting together with fellow enthusiasts and looking over old receipts and thinking about grocery purchases from days gone by."
He wasn't just smart and kind. He was also very funny, and I miss him terribly.

Kate Eldred

I only knew Scott for two months since I was hired on in the Geography department. When I first met Scott he welcomed me on board right then I knew with that smile upon his face, he was someone to appreciate as a friend and also a co-worker. He would come into the front office and ask, Wilhelmina is it all right if I use the computer I am trying out a program, and I would say yes it is ok. With that smile how could I not say yes? After a while he would come out of the office and say if he couldn't get the program working, but he didn't give up and thats what I really like about him the most he never gave up, and at that time I didn't know Scott was ill. He would say I'll be back later to try again and I would say that is fine with me Scott.

Wilhelmina Johnson

Scott Turner played an enormously important role in the development of the Department's research capabilities. When I arrived some 8 years ago, the computing resources of the Department were very limited. With Scott's guidance we realized that the only way for us to move forward, was to have a series of Unix work stations.
    For a Department of Geography to set up a networked series of such work stations was almost unheard of in those days. But we managed to set up one of the most powerful computing facilities in any Geography Department anywhere in the world. This just could not have happened without the abilities and unstinting hard work of Scott: there were just so many difficult technical problems for him to overcome associated with the hardware, the software, the networking and so on and so on. But overcome them he did.
    Scott was always there to battle with problems and moreover he was always there to help everyone who was learning about these new technologies. As we all know he did this with unfailing good humor. So far as I know, no one ever left a meeting with Scott where they had been put down for being technically incompetent, though goodness knows so many of us fell into that category compared with him: he would always use his very superior personal and technical computing skills to help us move forwards and he never left anyone feeling inadequate. He set us all a wonderful example in the way he conducted himself both professionally and personally.
  I will greatly miss Scott personally and I will always remember how much he contributed to the academic success of all of us who worked in the department during the last few years.

John Townshend

Big problems were the best. Working with Scott was a joy, especially when you were both deep in the guts of PCI or the Ethernet for hours on end. We'd talk about hiking, music, politics, sailing, the corporate experience, and much else. Scott had a "don't take it so serious" philosophy which enlivened those around him.

I'll miss you, sturner.

Rob Sohlberg

Prof. Goward, It is with great shock and dismay that I learned this morning of the passing of Scott Turner from cancer. Scott was my Masters advisee here at Ohio State, and he was an excellent student with a good record. Over the years I urged him to return to get his Ph.D., but with his family responsibilities and position in the UMD Department this never happened. Scott was a bright and creative individual, and the spatial world is poorer with his passing.
With sympathy and regret,

Harold Moellering
Professor of Geography

Please convey my regrets to Catherine.

Catherine
I want to express my sympathies to you on the death of Scott. Although I did not know Scott well, I enjoyed the time that I spent with him. He was most definitely a welcome addition to the UM Geography department environment.
My prayers are with you as you journey this path.

Paul Purman