Robert Pease

Electronics engineer in analog circuits; also columnist and author of two books
BSEE, M.I.T (1961)
National Semiconductor Corp., Santa Clara, California
Wife Nancy Pease, biologist and homemaker; son Benjamin went to MHS (’82) and U. Cal. Berkeley; son Jonathan went to Milton Academy, Deep Springs college and Cornell.

[From 50th Reunion Yearbook]
I was born in Connecticut, and after I graduated from the 8th grade of Broad Brook Grammar School, I found myself sent off to some good challenges at MHS, in the fall of 1953. I met lots of nice and interesting people, and some wise instructors.

After graduating in 1957 (as valedictorian, as you might recall), I went to MIT for 4 years. I studied Physics, but in 1960, when "Physics" wasn't "physical" any more, I transferred into Course VI, Electronics, and graduated from that in Sept. 1961. Actually, I majored in Outing Club for 4 years.... backpacking, hiking, and bicycling. Not much rock climbing or canoeing.
I started work for George A. Philbrick Researches (127 Clarendon St., Boston) in June of 1961. I was a technical writer first, but I began doing some real engineering with some of the new-fangled transistors. Quite challenging! All analog circuits, and amplifiers, (no flip-flops nor computers).

I married Nancy Baker in August 12 of 1961, in the MHS Chapel. We had our reception at the Chateau. Nancy's always been a great hiker and a back-packer. She's a good sport. I mean, she puts up with me. She is a wonderful woman, and a great cook.

At Philbrick, I invented many popular amplifiers and circuit modules (details available on request). But the management got screwed up, and I bailed out on Dec. 31, 1975. Ask me about the 3-cup bra (details available on request). I interviewed several places, and wound up working at National Semiconductor Corp., Santa Clara, right in the heart of Silicon Valley, 40 miles SE of San Francisco. I figured, the National guys were really smart, and they didn't need me, BUT they would have time to educate me, and a lot of my skills would complement theirs. I was right.

Meanwhile, as Nancy and I had two sons, Benjamin (MHS '82) and Jonathan (Milton '85) we had to find them a place where they could sing in a very good choir, in the San Francisco Area. They explained it to me with perfect logic, "Daddy, YOU want to work at a great place. WE want to sing in a great choir." I had to agree, so we moved in to San Francisco, to 682 Miramar Avenue, where we are still living after 30 years. We are in the S.F. phone book. Ben and Jon sang for several years in the choir at Grace Cathedral, on Nob Hill in S.F.
Nancy and I have done a lot of hiking and back-packing - thousands of miles - and we have hiked a few thousand miles on 9 treks in Nepal ( see at http://www.national.com/rap/nepal/index.html).

I have written two books - the first one was in 1991, "Troubleshooting Analog Circuits". This has sold over 35,000 copies in English, and has been translated into French, Dutch, German, Russian - AND Polish. My next book is "How To Drive Into ACCIDENTS - And How NOT To". If you have any kids or friends learning to drive, that is the book they need. See at http://www.transtronix.com.

I have invented a lot of good circuit ideas - over 21 patents (and hundreds of useful but un-patentable ones). I have designed 24 integrated circuits. I have given lectures in 188 places in the US, and in 104 foreign, overseas places. I have published 246 columns in Electronic Design Magazine. Ask me for a suggestion of 6 semi-technical ones I can recommend, and/or 6 technical ones.... they are posted on the web at www.national.com/rap and click on "ED columns".

AND, I am STILL having a lot of fun, writing and lecturing! I'm good for a few more years. I keep inventing new circuits, and finding new useful inventions. And making friends.
And, all of this good stuff wouldn't have happened if I hadn't gone to MHS. I mean, MIT, and the Real World, were EASY after MHS. The MHS teachers were good and TOUGH. Pappy Mirtz said, "We are not having
any un-announced tests this term". ("Hooray", said some students.) He continued ”- I'm announcing them all now." Fair enough warning....

Doc Stetson gave a 6-minute test at the end of almost every class. Donald Westin threw erasers at us, in case he thought he needed to get our attention. Jack "The Hawk" Baldwin was fair but tough. Judson Stent was unfair, but tough. Mr. Archibald was fair but challenging. After that, MIT was easy.

In February 1955, I snowshoed up to Crag Cabin at 4200 ft. on Mt. Adams, NH, on a trip led by Jack Williams and "Alpine Fred" Torrey, with the MHS Explorer Scout Troop. I remember Al Gates and Hollis Marian on that trip. It was nice and cold, and the snowshoeing was tough work! We got one heck of an education. Then, the next February, I decided to lead the same trip - I was just 15, but I figured I knew what I was doing, and I planned carefully. Malcolm Peck and Dick Frohne '57 made up the rest of the party, and we had a very good trip. In Feb '57, we went up again with Malcolm and his brother Donald.

This year, on Feb. 4, 2006, we decided to go up for a 50th reunion. Dick Frohne and Donald Peck couldn't make it, but Jonathan Staley '57 came, and we had a great trip. We got up to Crag Cabin, just fine, but then the wind was too high, and the temperature went right past + 4 degrees F, dropping rapidly, so we never were able to make it up to the top of 5799 ft. Mt. Adams. Maybe we'll try again in March of 2007? See at Section 17 of:
http://www.national.com/rap/nepal/index.html. On our way home, we stopped off to visit with Jack Williams, who is still going strong, in Mirror Lake, NH.

Going to MHS with a bunch of great guys made me some good friends. So did hiking with good people, especially with my wife, and sons. And Malcolm and Jon and Dick... And a lot of other good people. The late departed Mayer E. Wantman, and his wife Linda. Over the years, hiking makes great friends.

MHS has always been a great challenge to us. It makes us want to do our work well. It makes us want to get other good kids into NMHS. "Learn as if your life on earth would always be; live as if tomorrow ushered in eternity." "To our Alma Mater's standards, let us keep our hearts in tune; Hoorah, hoorah for Hermon; All hail to the Maroon."

I rest my case. / rap / Robert A. Pease / MHS '57.