Samuel P. Uselton

Samuel Parker Uselton died April 24 at his home in Sunol. He was 61.

Born May 28, 1951, he spent his early years in Dallas. During the 1960s he spent time in Austin, Texas where the music scene there sparked his interest in folk, rock and blues that would follow him his entire life.

Uselton was a computer scientist at NASA Ames, and later at LLNL. He was a pioneer in computer visualization and his first big paper has been referenced by more than1,000 subsequent publications.

His previous careers were land surveyor and college professor. He was known to be an absent-minded professor, a teacher with infinite patience who delighted in answering questions whether they came from his children, his graduate students or teenagers he tutored in his later years.

He loved live music and recognizing actors in old movies. He knew mysteries of the universe from advanced mathematics, to making a beer bottle sound like a foghorn.

He is survived by his parents, Gene and Peggy; his two brothers, Robert "Dutch" and Andrew; his three children, Joshua, Elizabeth and Catherine; and many loved ones.

A memorial will be held May 19 at the Lake Elizabeth teen center, 39770 Paseo Padre Parkway, Fremont. Speakers will begin at 11 a.m. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Wikipedia or to a favorite charity.