Physiology Professor Emeritus George Stibitz, one of the leading computer pioneers of his generation, died at his home Tuesday at the age of 90.
His most significant accomplishment was the invention of the precursor to modern-day computers.
Stibitz built the "binary adder" in 1937 from dry cell batteries, metal cans and light bulbs soldered to wires from two telephone relays, according to his memoirs, "The Zeroth Generation."
The title of his memoirs stems from the categorizing of his machine as a part of the "zeroth," as opposed to the first, generation of adding machines.
The binary adder made it possible for computers to add numbers, a revolutionary development that allowed computing to evolve into its present form, according to Andrew Daubenspeck, a physiology professor and friend of Stibitz.
"Not many people had the impact on the world that George had," Daubenspeck said. "The way a computer deals with numbers has not changed much since his work. His machine was the basis for digital computing."
"It looked like something you might make as a boy-scout, with bent cans and wire and bulbs. He used to keep it on his desk," Daubenspeck said.
But Stibitz's accomplishments as a computer innovator only comprise a small part of his contributions to Dartmouth. His colleagues describe him as eccentric yet practical.
"He was one of the last inventor types, a real Jack-of-all-trades," said Laurie Snell, a mathematics professor and friend of Stibitz.
"I remember one time when one of the College publications did a write-up about him. He had invented an unmanned lawn-mower. It would go around in circles on your lawn and cut the grass," Snell said. "I asked him if it was a joke, but he said, 'No, I'm serious.' That's how he was."
During World War II the Allies used Stibitz's Model 2 digital computer, developed cooperatively with Sam Jackson, to direct antiaircraft artillery.
Stibitz joined the Dartmouth Medical School faculty in 1964, became a professor in 1968 and a professor emeritus in 1974.
His work at the school primarily included creating computer models of biological phenomena, such as the motion of oxygen through the lungs and renal exchange processes, Daubenspeck said.
Stibitz was born April 30, 1904 in York, Pa.
He received his undergraduate education at Denison University. He attained a masters degree in physics from Union College and a doctorate from Cornell in 1930.
He is survived by Dorothea Stibitz, his wife, Mary Pacifici and Martha Stibitz, his daughters, E. Earle Stibitz, his brother and Mildred Stibitz and Eleanor Billmyer, his sisters.
