Updated May 27, 2010

Resources:
Archival photos
News sent in by your friends and/or coworkers
A listing of departmental personnel
A listing of departmental email addresses
A listing of lab personnel and email addresses

News of Vienna Lab people:

November 12: The Gerhards gathered for their annual reunion in Vienna. (Picture posted in the right column.)

November 09: Mike Alexander just completed a usability stint in London. He and Jill were photographed outside Jill's office building in October (see right).

September 15: Jill tells all in her most recent update. She invites others to do likewise.

April 27: Ian sends word of an opening for a tecnical writing and editing position in VIenna with the 3di firm. Contact Ian at ian_a_wright@yahoo.co.uk or access the job posting at www.3di.com.

February 23: Tom Avery's family has suggested that an appropriate memorial for Tom would be donations to the United Ministry of Aurora NY, PO Box 91, Aurora, NY 13026. Include Tom Avery Memorial on the check or cover letter. The organization maintains the cemetery where Tom is to be interred.

November 18: Tom Avery died Friday, November 14 at his home in California. His obituary appeared in Sunday's San Francisco Chronicle. A memorial service is scheduled for Saturday, November 22 at 3:00 (Pacific Standard Time, US) at the College Avenue Presbyterian Church in Oakland. Tom's death is a difficult thing to for us grasp. He was generous of spirit, gregarious, convivial, and witty. Those of us who were able to visit with him in Vienna at the late August reunion were fortunate. He'll be greatly missed.

November 12: Gerhard Nagl sends pictures of the Gerhard reunion (see right column). This was Snappy's first public appearance after prolonged illnesses.

September 9, 2008: Today, Sam and Mike offer this recap of the Vienna ID/HF reunion:

This is the first couple of lines of Sam’s 28 August 2007 email on the subject of a reunion:

Hello All, Wouldn’t it be great if all of us one-time Vienna ID folk could get together again for a reunion in Vienna? Well, Jill Newton suggested we do exactly that.

That’s a whole year ago and, what d’ya know, we did it. We had a wonderful reunion. Sadly not everyone we would have wished to share it with could make it but we remembered them with fondness and ask them to try and make it next time.

David’s already reported on the events that were organised and we will not elaborate on his summary. Anyway, the photos collected tell it all. But there’s another side to the reunion that made it very special. It brought together friends who have remained in touch over the last 24 years, thanks in great part, no doubt, to emails and David’s Vienna ID website. Moreover, the reunion created new friendships between individuals who had never previously met. It’s a special group indeed when its members travel literally from all over the world to get together, as you did. And for a few it was touch and go until the very last moment whether tricky situations at home would allow you to make the trip, so special thanks to you for making such a great effort to be with us. Had it been possible, we would have invited all our local IBM-Lab friends but we were pleased to have them represented by Fred Semturs (our ex-ID boss), Alfred Odlas, and Don and Sally Bourdage. It’s very likely that us folk local to Vienna will meet up with them again.

It was fascinating to listen to the accounts of the lives lived in those 24 years: partnerships made; children (with very special talents) produced, grown and sent to universities; grand-children celebrated; new work experienced; new pursuits pursued; and so on. Those not able to be with us were not forgotten. We updated each other about Mary and her new post in southern France, Bethanne and Jeff’s return to the US after a couple of years in Berlin, Carolyn and Julia in Chicago, Gerhard “Snappy” Finger, who’s currently convalescing somewhere in Austria, and Henry and Agata. Don’t be concerned if your name’s not here. We gassed about you too.

You who travelled to Vienna have all returned home safe and sound (in at least one case, with a certain amount of inconvenience) so that removes a final concern for us. I’m sure this reunion will live long and fondly in our memories. Stay in touch and enjoy the next big get-together, whatever and wherever it is.

Regards,

Mike and Sam

David's earlier note of September 3:

The August 27-30 Vienna reunion was an enjoyable and well-attended event.

Sam and Mike put together an agenda that began with a Wednesday visit to the Schweizerhaus, a Thursday concert at the Musikverein, a Friday trip through the Wachau, and a heuriger abend on Saturday that drew over 30 of the old Vienna Lab people. There were also "side trips" like a chocolate tour and several impromptu dinner gatherings.

The reunion photos are hosted on www.snapfish.com. To view them, you'll need and "invitation" from me (which you should have already received, but drop me a note at dbradford@nc.rr.com if not). You'll then need to establish a Snapfish account. I understand how you likely feel about signing up at yet another site, especially one that requires your userid as input, but there is little overhead or "spam" associated with creating the account.

The advantage of Snapfish over similar sites (like Kodak's) is that Snapfish allows a larger display of photos, offers a "slideshow" facility, and gives higher resolution of each shot. It also allows a "print from site," although the resolution of printed photos is marginal. Finally, it allows hard-copy printing at local outlets worldwide.

Those of you who'd rather not do Snapfish registration can view my pictures at thumbnails. Shane MacDonald's are posted at on a Picasa Web site.

Sam and Mike did a wonderful job in coordinating the activies. The weather cooperated. The atmosphere was convivial. All told, it was a remarkably successful gathering.

Other news

July 14, 2008: Kurt Wittmann plays the devil in a production of "Everyman." See the promotional materials.

Mike Alexander updates us on his doings for the past year or so. Read his update.

Paula Lozar visited the Toronto Wieners in May. The picture in the right column (or see larger version) shows Paula with Joan, Steve, and Rose.