CS Community Mourns loss of John Gannon

Professor John D. Gannon, Chair of the Department of Computer Science at the University of Maryland, died in his sleep of cardiac arrest at his home in Silver Spring, MD, early on Saturday June 12, 1999 He was 51.

Dr. Gannon was born in Providence, Rhode Island, and raised in Warwick, Rhode Island. He received Bachelors and Masters degrees from Brown University, and the Ph.D. in Computer Science from the University of Toronto. He joined the University of Maryland faculty in 1975.

Dr. Gannon was a leading figure in computer science through his research on software engineering: the specification, analysis, and testing of software systems. He was also a gifted teacher and received many awards for his work with students, including the University of Maryland Distinguished Scholar-Teacher Award. His recent public service included membership on the Board of Directors of the Computing Research Association, chairing the Graduate Record Examination Board computer science committee, and serving as a program officer with the National Science Foundation. Dr. Gannon was an elected Fellow of the Association for Computing Machinery (ACM).

Professor Gannon is survived by his wife, Nancy Garrison, of Silver Spring, Maryland, and a brother, Rickard Gannon of Foster, Rhode Island. He is also fondly remembered by his nieces, Allison and Michaela, and a nephew, Matthew Gannon.

The John D. Gannon Scholarship Fund has been established to commemorate John's commitment to students and education at the University of Maryland. Contribution and condolences information is available at www.cs.umd.edu/.

A Memorial Service was held in the Large Memorial Chapel with a reception that followed in the A. V. Williams Building on the University of Maryland Campus.

Information provided by the Department of Computer Science, University of Maryland.