Harwood G. Kolsky

Harwood George Kolsky
Jan. 18, 1921 - Nov. 5, 2015
Harwood G. Kolsky passed away peacefully in his sleep in Saratoga, Calif., on Nov. 5, 2015. He was born Jan. 18, 1921, in Portland Oregon to George and Emma (Hegree) Kolsky. Shortly after his birth, his parents returned to their farm in western Kansas. When Harwood was a young child his father was hospitalized with appendicitis. The resulting treatment left him unable to do heavy farm work and he moved his family to the small town of Oberlin, Kan., where they lived until Harwood was a sophomore in high school. Harwood’s mother Emma was always highly focused on education as a pathway to success and her effort was not wasted. In the middle of the Great Depression, with their modest resources, they relocated to Lawrence, Kan., so Harwood could attend the University of Kansas. It was during his KU undergraduate years that he wed his wife Frances Cilek, also a KU graduate, who after 61 years of marriage sadly passed away in 2003.
Harwood excelled in his studies and earned BS and MS degrees from KU. His studies were interrupted when he enlisted in the U.S. Army during World War II and spent three years in the South Pacific. Upon returning from the war, he was granted admission to Harvard University and obtained a Ph.D. in physics in 1950.
In 1957, after seven years at the Los Alamos National Laboratory, he joined IBM, where he rose to the highest technical rank, being named an IBM Fellow in 1969. He joined the IBM Palo Alto Scientific Center when it was formed in 1964 and worked there until his retirement in 1986. He published over 30 papers and was a member of four professional societies. He then joined the newly-formed Computer Engineering Department at the University of California Santa Cruz and began a new career as a full-time professor until his second retirement in 1996. After his wife Frances died, he became an active member of the Saratoga Retirement Community.
Harwood was always proud of his Kansas heritage, and was seriously involved with genealogy and professionally recorded his family history.
Harwood’s integrity and honesty were unparalleled and serve as a strong example to us all.
Harwood is survived by his daughter Barbara (Tom) Meyers, son Franklin (Michele) Kolsky, son Alan (Linda) Kolsky, granddaughter Carol Meyers (Mike King), granddaughter Lauren Kolsky, and great-grandsons Nathaniel and Zachary King. He was preceded in death by his dear wife Frances, his son Douglas and his grandson Patrick Kolsky. e will be greatly missed by all who knew and loved him.
In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the SRC Living Legacy Fund, 14500 Fruitvale Avenue, 1000, Saratoga, CA 95070.