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C.B. Falconer, RIP 1931-2012
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Charles Richmond
Oct 25, 2012, 4:11:12 PM10/25/12
to
I am sorry to report that C.B. "Chuck" Falconer has passed away. He used to
be a regular in alt.folklore.computers, comp.os.cpm, and comp.lang.c. He
had a long and involved history with computers and programming. He was born
in Switzerland on September 13, 1931 and passed away in Damariscotta, Maine
on June 4, 2012. I'm sure most everyone here remembers him and his posts to
Usenet. One of his many accomplishments was writing an article for an early
Dr. Dobbs magazine on implementing floating point on the Intel 8080
microprocessor.
His resent resume and the downloadable files from a recent web page of
his... can be found at You can a recent resume of his at the ClassicCmp
website:
http://tinyurl.com/8fudn4o
His obituary is at:
http://tinyurl.com/8ahongj
I know I'm *not* the only person he has helped in his time on Usenet. I'm
sure many here will mourn his passing.
--
numerist at aquaporin4 dot com
be a regular in alt.folklore.computers, comp.os.cpm, and comp.lang.c. He
had a long and involved history with computers and programming. He was born
in Switzerland on September 13, 1931 and passed away in Damariscotta, Maine
on June 4, 2012. I'm sure most everyone here remembers him and his posts to
Usenet. One of his many accomplishments was writing an article for an early
Dr. Dobbs magazine on implementing floating point on the Intel 8080
microprocessor.
His resent resume and the downloadable files from a recent web page of
his... can be found at You can a recent resume of his at the ClassicCmp
website:
http://tinyurl.com/8fudn4o
His obituary is at:
http://tinyurl.com/8ahongj
I know I'm *not* the only person he has helped in his time on Usenet. I'm
sure many here will mourn his passing.
--
numerist at aquaporin4 dot com
philo
Oct 25, 2012, 4:57:19 PM10/25/12
to
Patrick Scheible
Oct 25, 2012, 5:09:36 PM10/25/12
to
"Charles Richmond" <nume...@aquaporin4.com> writes:
> I am sorry to report that C.B. "Chuck" Falconer has passed away.
Oh, that's very sad. Thanks for letting us know.
> I am sorry to report that C.B. "Chuck" Falconer has passed away.
-- Patrick
Keith Thompson
Oct 25, 2012, 6:20:17 PM10/25/12
to
"Charles Richmond" <nume...@aquaporin4.com> writes:
> I am sorry to report that C.B. "Chuck" Falconer has passed away. He
> used to be a regular in alt.folklore.computers, comp.os.cpm, and
> comp.lang.c. He had a long and involved history with computers and
> programming. He was born in Switzerland on September 13, 1931 and
> passed away in Damariscotta, Maine on June 4, 2012. I'm sure most
> everyone here remembers him and his posts to Usenet. One of his many
> accomplishments was writing an article for an early Dr. Dobbs magazine
> on implementing floating point on the Intel 8080 microprocessor.
Sad news indeed. Thank you for posting this.
> I am sorry to report that C.B. "Chuck" Falconer has passed away. He
> used to be a regular in alt.folklore.computers, comp.os.cpm, and
> comp.lang.c. He had a long and involved history with computers and
> programming. He was born in Switzerland on September 13, 1931 and
> passed away in Damariscotta, Maine on June 4, 2012. I'm sure most
> everyone here remembers him and his posts to Usenet. One of his many
> accomplishments was writing an article for an early Dr. Dobbs magazine
> on implementing floating point on the Intel 8080 microprocessor.
--
Keith Thompson (The_Other_Keith) ks...@mib.org <http://www.ghoti.net/~kst>
Will write code for food.
"We must do something. This is something. Therefore, we must do this."
-- Antony Jay and Jonathan Lynn, "Yes Minister"
Bruce Morgen
Oct 25, 2012, 9:27:50 PM10/25/12
to
work years before I had
access to Usenet -- and in
all my time programming in
the CP/M world, I never
encountered a more solidly
bulletproof tool than his
"DDTZ" debugger, a true
masterpiece that got me
out of more jams than I
could count back in the
day. R.I.P.
Joe Pfeiffer
Oct 25, 2012, 10:00:05 PM10/25/12
to
I am very, very sorry to learn this. While I never met him in person, I
remember his many valuable contributions to this newsgroup. I hope that
if anyone is in contact with his family they will convey my condolences.
remember his many valuable contributions to this newsgroup. I hope that
if anyone is in contact with his family they will convey my condolences.
Ahem A Rivet's Shot
Oct 26, 2012, 3:02:53 AM10/26/12
to
On Thu, 25 Oct 2012 15:11:12 -0500
"Charles Richmond" <nume...@aquaporin4.com> wrote:
> I am sorry to report that C.B. "Chuck" Falconer has passed away. He used
> to be a regular in alt.folklore.computers, comp.os.cpm, and comp.lang.c.
A sad loss, I've been misssing him for some time.
"Charles Richmond" <nume...@aquaporin4.com> wrote:
> I am sorry to report that C.B. "Chuck" Falconer has passed away. He used
> to be a regular in alt.folklore.computers, comp.os.cpm, and comp.lang.c.
Thank you for letting us all know.
--
Steve O'Hara-Smith | Directable Mirror Arrays
C:>WIN | A better way to focus the sun
The computer obeys and wins. | licences available see
You lose and Bill collects. | http://www.sohara.org/
Peter Flass
Oct 26, 2012, 7:58:09 AM10/26/12
to
On 10/25/2012 4:11 PM, Charles Richmond wrote:
> I am sorry to report that C.B. "Chuck" Falconer has passed away. He
> used to be a regular in alt.folklore.computers, comp.os.cpm, and
> comp.lang.c.
Oh No :-( People drift in and out here so you lose track of them, but
> I am sorry to report that C.B. "Chuck" Falconer has passed away. He
> used to be a regular in alt.folklore.computers, comp.os.cpm, and
> comp.lang.c.
as I recall Chuck always had something interesting to say. I'm so sad.
--
Pete
Les Cargill
Oct 26, 2012, 8:54:10 AM10/26/12
to
--
Les Cargill
jmfbahciv
Oct 26, 2012, 8:58:45 AM10/26/12
to
Charles Richmond wrote:
> I am sorry to report that C.B. "Chuck" Falconer has passed away. He used to
> be a regular in alt.folklore.computers, comp.os.cpm, and comp.lang.c. He
> had a long and involved history with computers and programming. He was born
> in Switzerland on September 13, 1931 and passed away in Damariscotta, Maine
> on June 4, 2012. I'm sure most everyone here remembers him and his posts to
> Usenet. One of his many accomplishments was writing an article for an early
> Dr. Dobbs magazine on implementing floating point on the Intel 8080
> microprocessor.
I've been wondering for years where he went. Thanks for telling me.
> I am sorry to report that C.B. "Chuck" Falconer has passed away. He used to
> be a regular in alt.folklore.computers, comp.os.cpm, and comp.lang.c. He
> had a long and involved history with computers and programming. He was born
> in Switzerland on September 13, 1931 and passed away in Damariscotta, Maine
> on June 4, 2012. I'm sure most everyone here remembers him and his posts to
> Usenet. One of his many accomplishments was writing an article for an early
> Dr. Dobbs magazine on implementing floating point on the Intel 8080
> microprocessor.
/BAH
dott.Piergiorgio
Oct 26, 2012, 9:24:54 AM10/26/12
to
Il 25/10/2012 22:11, Charles Richmond ha scritto:
> I am sorry to report that C.B. "Chuck" Falconer has passed away. He
> used to be a regular in alt.folklore.computers, comp.os.cpm, and
> comp.lang.c. He had a long and involved history with computers and
> programming. He was born in Switzerland on September 13, 1931 and
> passed away in Damariscotta, Maine on June 4, 2012. I'm sure most
> everyone here remembers him and his posts to Usenet. One of his many
> accomplishments was writing an article for an early Dr. Dobbs magazine
> on implementing floating point on the Intel 8080 microprocessor.
sirs, please stand up and raise glass !
> I am sorry to report that C.B. "Chuck" Falconer has passed away. He
> used to be a regular in alt.folklore.computers, comp.os.cpm, and
> comp.lang.c. He had a long and involved history with computers and
> programming. He was born in Switzerland on September 13, 1931 and
> passed away in Damariscotta, Maine on June 4, 2012. I'm sure most
> everyone here remembers him and his posts to Usenet. One of his many
> accomplishments was writing an article for an early Dr. Dobbs magazine
> on implementing floating point on the Intel 8080 microprocessor.
Best regards from Italy,
dott. Piergiorgio.
pete
Oct 26, 2012, 8:25:32 PM10/26/12
to
Charles Richmond wrote:
>
> I am sorry to report that C.B. "Chuck" Falconer has passed away.
>
> I am sorry to report that C.B. "Chuck" Falconer has passed away.
> I know I'm *not* the only person he has helped in his time on Usenet.
He was one of the very few people here
to have given me solutions
when I directly asked for help with programming problems.
--
pete
Gene Wirchenko
Oct 26, 2012, 11:55:46 PM10/26/12
to
On Thu, 25 Oct 2012 15:11:12 -0500, "Charles Richmond"
<nume...@aquaporin4.com> wrote:
>I am sorry to report that C.B. "Chuck" Falconer has passed away. He used to
>be a regular in alt.folklore.computers, comp.os.cpm, and comp.lang.c. He
Thank you for the news, bad though it is. I am sorry to hear of
<nume...@aquaporin4.com> wrote:
>I am sorry to report that C.B. "Chuck" Falconer has passed away. He used to
>be a regular in alt.folklore.computers, comp.os.cpm, and comp.lang.c. He
his death.
[snip]
Sincerely,
Gene Wirchenko
br...@marstella.net
Oct 27, 2012, 3:00:10 AM10/27/12
to Charles Richmond
Probably like many others I've come across Chuck's works and gotten much from them, although I never had direct contact with him. A shame to lose him. Thanks for taking the time to notify everyone.
Regards,
Brian.
Regards,
Brian.
Rosario1903
Oct 27, 2012, 3:55:48 AM10/27/12
to
rispondo in italiano poiche' non ho qui il vocabolario di inglese...
anche se penso non mi gradiva come postatore di articoli,
a me era simpatico e diceva molte cose vere;
mi ricordo che mi collegai al suo sito internet, e vidi un
immagine di un bambino; doveva essere il suo nipote...
Nick Keighley
Oct 27, 2012, 9:00:15 AM10/27/12
to
On Oct 25, 9:11 pm, "Charles Richmond" <numer...@aquaporin4.com>
wrote:
thanks for posting this. He'll be missed.
wrote:
Charlie Gibbs
Oct 27, 2012, 4:07:38 PM10/27/12
to
In article <PM0004CCF...@ac81c45c.ipt.aol.com>, See....@aol.com
--
/~\ cgi...@kltpzyxm.invalid (Charlie Gibbs)
\ / I'm really at ac.dekanfrus if you read it the right way.
X Top-posted messages will probably be ignored. See RFC1855.
/ \ HTML will DEFINITELY be ignored. Join the ASCII ribbon campaign!
(jmfbahciv) writes:
> I've been wondering for years where he went. Thanks for telling me.
Me too. Rest in peace, Chuck.
> I've been wondering for years where he went. Thanks for telling me.
--
/~\ cgi...@kltpzyxm.invalid (Charlie Gibbs)
\ / I'm really at ac.dekanfrus if you read it the right way.
X Top-posted messages will probably be ignored. See RFC1855.
/ \ HTML will DEFINITELY be ignored. Join the ASCII ribbon campaign!
Niklas Karlsson
Oct 27, 2012, 6:21:09 PM10/27/12
to
On 2012-10-26, dott.Piergiorgio <chied...@ask.me> wrote:
> Il 25/10/2012 22:11, Charles Richmond ha scritto:
>> I am sorry to report that C.B. "Chuck" Falconer has passed away.
>
> Il 25/10/2012 22:11, Charles Richmond ha scritto:
>> I am sorry to report that C.B. "Chuck" Falconer has passed away.
>
> sirs, please stand up and raise glass !
To Chuck!
I've long appreciated his posts in afc and clc. Like many others I've
wondered where he went.
Niklas
--
Technology makes it possible for people to gain control
over everything, except over technology.
-- John Tudor
Bernd Felsche
Oct 28, 2012, 11:22:08 PM10/28/12
to
"Charles Richmond" <nume...@aquaporin4.com> wrote:
>I am sorry to report that C.B. "Chuck" Falconer has passed away.
>He used to be a regular in alt.folklore.computers, comp.os.cpm, and
>comp.lang.c. He had a long and involved history with computers and
>programming. He was born in Switzerland on September 13, 1931 and
>passed away in Damariscotta, Maine on June 4, 2012. I'm sure most
>everyone here remembers him and his posts to Usenet. One of his
>many accomplishments was writing an article for an early Dr. Dobbs
>magazine on implementing floating point on the Intel 8080
>microprocessor.
Very sad to read that. He will be missed.
>I am sorry to report that C.B. "Chuck" Falconer has passed away.
>He used to be a regular in alt.folklore.computers, comp.os.cpm, and
>comp.lang.c. He had a long and involved history with computers and
>programming. He was born in Switzerland on September 13, 1931 and
>passed away in Damariscotta, Maine on June 4, 2012. I'm sure most
>everyone here remembers him and his posts to Usenet. One of his
>many accomplishments was writing an article for an early Dr. Dobbs
>magazine on implementing floating point on the Intel 8080
>microprocessor.
I trust that the bereaved will find some comfort and joy in their
memories of Chuck.
--
/"\ Bernd Felsche - Somewhere in Western Australia
\ / ASCII ribbon campaign | For every complex problem there is an
X against HTML mail | answer that is clear, simple, and wrong.
/ \ and postings | --HL Mencken
BruceS
Oct 29, 2012, 6:01:10 PM10/29/12
to
the only person he helped. Many here will miss him.
Tim McCaffrey
Oct 31, 2012, 2:16:04 PM10/31/12
to
In article <k6c6db$tp4$1...@dont-email.me>, nume...@aquaporin4.com says...
While I didn't get any help from C.B., I did appreciate his posts. I
remembered his name from the DDJ article ("Falconer Floating point, 16 bit
floating point for the 8080", complete with Trig and Transcendental functions
IIRC).
He is one of the people I have noticed not posting here, including some other
people I have occasionally wondered about: Roland Hutchinson and Frank McCoy
for instance (and there was another guy that posted from Barrow, AK, I can't
remember his name). I actually live close enough to Roland I could go see
one of his "concerts".
- Tim
remembered his name from the DDJ article ("Falconer Floating point, 16 bit
floating point for the 8080", complete with Trig and Transcendental functions
IIRC).
He is one of the people I have noticed not posting here, including some other
people I have occasionally wondered about: Roland Hutchinson and Frank McCoy
for instance (and there was another guy that posted from Barrow, AK, I can't
remember his name). I actually live close enough to Roland I could go see
one of his "concerts".
- Tim
Nick Spalding
Oct 31, 2012, 2:29:08 PM10/31/12
to
Tim McCaffrey wrote, in <k6rpt4$s9u$1...@USTR-NEWS.TR.UNISYS.COM>
on Wed, 31 Oct 2012 18:16:04 +0000 (UTC):
Floyd Paterson I think.
> I actually live close enough to Roland I could go see
> one of his "concerts".
>
> - Tim
--
Nick Spalding
on Wed, 31 Oct 2012 18:16:04 +0000 (UTC):
> I actually live close enough to Roland I could go see
> one of his "concerts".
>
> - Tim
Nick Spalding
Michael Black
Oct 31, 2012, 5:14:49 PM10/31/12
to
On Wed, 31 Oct 2012, Nick Spalding wrote:
>> While I didn't get any help from C.B., I did appreciate his posts. I
>> remembered his name from the DDJ article ("Falconer Floating point, 16 bit
>> floating point for the 8080", complete with Trig and Transcendental functions
>> IIRC).
>>
>> He is one of the people I have noticed not posting here, including some other
>> people I have occasionally wondered about: Roland Hutchinson and Frank McCoy
>> for instance (and there was another guy that posted from Barrow, AK, I can't
>> remember his name).
>
> Floyd Paterson I think.
>
I think that's Floyd Davison or Davidson. He seems less active to the
>> While I didn't get any help from C.B., I did appreciate his posts. I
>> remembered his name from the DDJ article ("Falconer Floating point, 16 bit
>> floating point for the 8080", complete with Trig and Transcendental functions
>> IIRC).
>>
>> He is one of the people I have noticed not posting here, including some other
>> people I have occasionally wondered about: Roland Hutchinson and Frank McCoy
>> for instance (and there was another guy that posted from Barrow, AK, I can't
>> remember his name).
>
> Floyd Paterson I think.
>
newsgroups in recent years, but I've seen him in the digital photography
newsgroup in recent months, and I think in one of the Linux newsgroups.
I had the impression he came and went, posting for a bit, then
disappearing, returning later.
Michael
Floppy Software
Nov 2, 2012, 4:20:24 PM11/2/12
to Charles Richmond
El jueves, 25 de octubre de 2012 22:11:24 UTC+2, Charles Richmond escribió:
> I am sorry to report that C.B. "Chuck" Falconer has passed away.
Sad news, of course.
> I am sorry to report that C.B. "Chuck" Falconer has passed away.
I'm sure we'll miss him.
Thanks for the info Charles.
Message has been deleted
Rod Pemberton
Nov 9, 2012, 7:12:04 PM11/9/12
to
"Charles Richmond" <nume...@aquaporin4.com> wrote in message
news:k6c6db$tp4$1...@dont-email.me...
>
> His obituary is at:
>
> [link]
the essence of the man, what he stood for, his achievements in life, and
most importantly, what, if anything, humanity will remember him for:
*PLONK*
As you treated others in life, so too shall you be treated in death.
Rod Pemberton
news:k6c6db$tp4$1...@dont-email.me...
> I am sorry to report that C.B. "Chuck" Falconer has passed away. He used
> to be a regular in alt.folklore.computers, comp.os.cpm, and comp.lang.c.
> He had a long and involved history with computers and programming. He
> was born in Switzerland on September 13, 1931 and passed away in
> Damariscotta, Maine on June 4, 2012. I'm sure most everyone here
> remembers him and his posts to Usenet. One of his many accomplishments
> was writing an article for an early Dr. Dobbs magazine on implementing
> floating point on the Intel 8080 microprocessor.
>
> His resent resume and the downloadable files from a recent web page of
> his... can be found at You can a recent resume of his at the ClassicCmp
> website:
>
> [link]
> to be a regular in alt.folklore.computers, comp.os.cpm, and comp.lang.c.
> He had a long and involved history with computers and programming. He
> was born in Switzerland on September 13, 1931 and passed away in
> Damariscotta, Maine on June 4, 2012. I'm sure most everyone here
> remembers him and his posts to Usenet. One of his many accomplishments
> was writing an article for an early Dr. Dobbs magazine on implementing
> floating point on the Intel 8080 microprocessor.
>
> His resent resume and the downloadable files from a recent web page of
> his... can be found at You can a recent resume of his at the ClassicCmp
> website:
>
>
> His obituary is at:
>
> [link]
>
> I know I'm *not* the only person he has helped in his time on Usenet. I'm
> sure many here will mourn his passing.
>
Every truly great man needs a quote on his tombstone which truly captures
> I know I'm *not* the only person he has helped in his time on Usenet. I'm
> sure many here will mourn his passing.
>
the essence of the man, what he stood for, his achievements in life, and
most importantly, what, if anything, humanity will remember him for:
*PLONK*
As you treated others in life, so too shall you be treated in death.
Rod Pemberton
Bruce Morgen
Nov 9, 2012, 7:47:27 PM11/9/12
to
give a flyin' fahootch. :-)
Rod Speed
Nov 9, 2012, 9:56:16 PM11/9/12
to
"Bruce Morgen" <edi...@juno.com> wrote in message
news:qv8r98tbg9quqerus...@4ax.com...
Les Cargill
Nov 10, 2012, 1:28:47 AM11/10/12
to
Texas.
--
Les Cargill
Rod Speed
Nov 10, 2012, 1:48:20 AM11/10/12
to
"Les Cargill" <lcarg...@comcast.com> wrote in message
news:k7ks70$moi$3...@dont-email.me...
even need to rent back here before I end up in hell.
Charles Richmond
Nov 11, 2012, 12:42:52 AM11/11/12
to
"Rod Pemberton" <do_no...@notemailnotz.cnm> wrote in message
news:k7k5sn$5mm$1...@speranza.aioe.org...
will be treated fairly in death. If Chuck *plonked* you in his life... you
must have *richly* deserved it, Mr. Pemberton.
news:k7k5sn$5mm$1...@speranza.aioe.org...
> "Charles Richmond" <nume...@aquaporin4.com> wrote in message
> news:k6c6db$tp4$1...@dont-email.me...
>> I am sorry to report that C.B. "Chuck" Falconer has passed away.
>>
>> [snip...] [snip...] [snip...]
> news:k6c6db$tp4$1...@dont-email.me...
>> I am sorry to report that C.B. "Chuck" Falconer has passed away.
>>
>>
> Every truly great man needs a quote on his tombstone which truly captures
> the essence of the man, what he stood for, his achievements in life, and
> most importantly, what, if anything, humanity will remember him for:
>
> *PLONK*
>
> As you treated others in life, so too shall you be treated in death.
>
Mr. C.B. Falconer treated people *justly* in his life, so I believe that he
> Every truly great man needs a quote on his tombstone which truly captures
> the essence of the man, what he stood for, his achievements in life, and
> most importantly, what, if anything, humanity will remember him for:
>
> *PLONK*
>
> As you treated others in life, so too shall you be treated in death.
>
will be treated fairly in death. If Chuck *plonked* you in his life... you
must have *richly* deserved it, Mr. Pemberton.
James Kuyper
Nov 11, 2012, 10:43:46 AM11/11/12
to
<https://groups.google.com/d/msg/comp.lang.c/HkbRqDl1Qvs/mwXe1awtQv0J>.
The plonk seems fairly well deserved to me. I get the same impression
from the other articles I've found written by Pemberton while looking
for that one.
Chuck had his faults - I must have missed the good times that many
people fondly remember - my strongest memory of him is that almost every
message he posted contained at least one error. However, plonking RP
doesn't seem to have been one of those errors.
--
James Kuyper
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