PUBLISHED IN THE SOUTH JERSEY TIMES - APRIL 19, 2014
Forman Sinnickson Acton, Professor Emeritus of Computer Science at Princeton University, died at Friends Village at Woodstown, NJ on February 18, 2014 following a brief illness at the age of 93.
The only child of Elizabeth Forman Sinnickson Acton and William Harker Acton, he began his education in the Salem City School System. He left at the end of 9th grade to attend boarding school at Phillips Exeter Academy in Exeter, New Hampshire, where he graduated in 1939.
Forman entered Princeton University and majored in Engineering where he received his Bachelor of Science Degree in 1943 in Chemical Engineering in 1944.
The Army drafted him in 1944 and sent him to Spartansburg, SC for basic training. He considered himself a pretty good sharpshooter, but he didn't like marching and wasn't good at bayonet drills. He felt he could be of better use to the military effort elsewhere. During the 10th week of basic training, suddenly, he was transferred to a very technical plant in Oak Ridge, TN. This plant produced U-235 that was the explosive part of the Hiroshima bomb.
In December of 1945, Forman was given an honorable discharge from the Army Corp of Engineers. Ohio State University needed math teachers for the flood of returning veteran soldiers who wanted to enter college.
Forman wanted to do graduate work with the chairman of the math department, John L. Synge. Through Forman's connections, a military officer applied to the Army for Forman's release. Acton remained at Ohio State for only six months since Dr. Synge was leaving to start a major program in Applied Math - a rarity in America and even in Europe. Forman's interests were in using math in engineering studies. He was a graduate student for 3 years at Carnegie.
Acton became only the second graduate from Carnegie Institute of Technology to earn his Doctor of Science Degree in Applied Math.
He accepted a job with the National Bureau of Standards at an institute for Numerical Analysis at UCLA which was devoted to the new electronic computing machines. They were building two, one in D. C. and the other in Los Angeles. Forman worked on one of the first digital computers called SWAC(Standards Western Automatic Computer). Entering at the ground floor level, he was a pioneer in computers.
Acton began teaching in the math department at Princeton University in the Analytical Research Group in 1952. He worked on military weapons projects troubleshooting army rockets which were exploding in their launchers and he was involved in the design of Nike Conventional Warheads.
During this period of time, he became a computer expert. In 1956, the Engineering School asked him to join them to design applied scientific and engineering problem-solving courses.
In 1963, Forman accompanied the first computer to the Indian Institute of Technology near Kanpur, India where he helped set up the computer center and where he began teaching classes. He remained for one year.
Computers were developing rapidly and the India Institute of Technology had received a big IBM machine and requested that he return in the spring of 1967 to teach a six month course and offer organizational advice.
Forman once asked Luther Eisenhart, Dean of Faculty at Princeton, "When are you going to start teaching math so engineers could understand it?" According to a Smithsonian transcript, Eisenhart at that moment appointed Forman an instructor of math with a course assignment starting in two weeks.
"I had never lectured in front of a class in my life and I went out of the office with my knees shaking," Forman said. "That's how I got into math. That's how I got into most things, sticking my neck out at inappropriate times."
In 1985, the Computer Science Dept. was established in the engineering dept. of Princeton.
He spent many summer days writing his textbooks at his cabin on Woodmere Lake in Quinton Twp. He authored 3 published textbooks; Analysis of Straight-Line Data, Numerical Methods That usually Work, and Real Computing Made-Real Preventing Errors in Scientific and Engineering Calculations.
Forman taught at Princeton for 37 years, retiring in 1990.
A former student and long-time friend described Forman as being "an exquisite teacher of the the things that he learned."
Forman felt that travels should belong in the cultural education category.
Wherever he was living, he took advantage of visiting those countries that bordered him. Acton was a seasoned world traveler and was especially fond of Germany where he visited yearly. He loved to tour museums and visit old friends. He studied the architecture of the cathedrals and abbey churches in the Rhine Region. His first and only sailing adventure was crewing on a 39' ketch from Hawaii to San Francisco in 31 days and using a sextant as his only navigational aid.
Forman loved food - the spicier the better, fine wines from the Mosel Valley, and classical music.
When he turned 80, he decided he needed regular physical exercise so he joined the Lower
Alloways Creek pool where he swam 6 days a week in "Lane 1" for the remaining 14 years of life.
Forman lived a full, rich, and exciting life.
He is survived by several cousins and many good friends all around the world.
His cremated remains will be spread privately
Forman Sinnickson Acton, Professor Emeritus of Computer Science at Princeton University, died at Friends Village at Woodstown, NJ on February 18, 2014 following a brief illness at the age of 93.
The only child of Elizabeth Forman Sinnickson Acton and William Harker Acton, he began his education in the Salem City School System. He left at the end of 9th grade to attend boarding school at Phillips Exeter Academy in Exeter, New Hampshire, where he graduated in 1939.
Forman entered Princeton University and majored in Engineering where he received his Bachelor of Science Degree in 1943 in Chemical Engineering in 1944.
The Army drafted him in 1944 and sent him to Spartansburg, SC for basic training. He considered himself a pretty good sharpshooter, but he didn't like marching and wasn't good at bayonet drills. He felt he could be of better use to the military effort elsewhere. During the 10th week of basic training, suddenly, he was transferred to a very technical plant in Oak Ridge, TN. This plant produced U-235 that was the explosive part of the Hiroshima bomb.
In December of 1945, Forman was given an honorable discharge from the Army Corp of Engineers. Ohio State University needed math teachers for the flood of returning veteran soldiers who wanted to enter college.
Forman wanted to do graduate work with the chairman of the math department, John L. Synge. Through Forman's connections, a military officer applied to the Army for Forman's release. Acton remained at Ohio State for only six months since Dr. Synge was leaving to start a major program in Applied Math - a rarity in America and even in Europe. Forman's interests were in using math in engineering studies. He was a graduate student for 3 years at Carnegie.
Acton became only the second graduate from Carnegie Institute of Technology to earn his Doctor of Science Degree in Applied Math.
He accepted a job with the National Bureau of Standards at an institute for Numerical Analysis at UCLA which was devoted to the new electronic computing machines. They were building two, one in D. C. and the other in Los Angeles. Forman worked on one of the first digital computers called SWAC(Standards Western Automatic Computer). Entering at the ground floor level, he was a pioneer in computers.
Acton began teaching in the math department at Princeton University in the Analytical Research Group in 1952. He worked on military weapons projects troubleshooting army rockets which were exploding in their launchers and he was involved in the design of Nike Conventional Warheads.
During this period of time, he became a computer expert. In 1956, the Engineering School asked him to join them to design applied scientific and engineering problem-solving courses.
In 1963, Forman accompanied the first computer to the Indian Institute of Technology near Kanpur, India where he helped set up the computer center and where he began teaching classes. He remained for one year.
Computers were developing rapidly and the India Institute of Technology had received a big IBM machine and requested that he return in the spring of 1967 to teach a six month course and offer organizational advice.
Forman once asked Luther Eisenhart, Dean of Faculty at Princeton, "When are you going to start teaching math so engineers could understand it?" According to a Smithsonian transcript, Eisenhart at that moment appointed Forman an instructor of math with a course assignment starting in two weeks.
"I had never lectured in front of a class in my life and I went out of the office with my knees shaking," Forman said. "That's how I got into math. That's how I got into most things, sticking my neck out at inappropriate times."
In 1985, the Computer Science Dept. was established in the engineering dept. of Princeton.
He spent many summer days writing his textbooks at his cabin on Woodmere Lake in Quinton Twp. He authored 3 published textbooks; Analysis of Straight-Line Data, Numerical Methods That usually Work, and Real Computing Made-Real Preventing Errors in Scientific and Engineering Calculations.
Forman taught at Princeton for 37 years, retiring in 1990.
A former student and long-time friend described Forman as being "an exquisite teacher of the the things that he learned."
Forman felt that travels should belong in the cultural education category.
Wherever he was living, he took advantage of visiting those countries that bordered him. Acton was a seasoned world traveler and was especially fond of Germany where he visited yearly. He loved to tour museums and visit old friends. He studied the architecture of the cathedrals and abbey churches in the Rhine Region. His first and only sailing adventure was crewing on a 39' ketch from Hawaii to San Francisco in 31 days and using a sextant as his only navigational aid.
Forman loved food - the spicier the better, fine wines from the Mosel Valley, and classical music.
When he turned 80, he decided he needed regular physical exercise so he joined the Lower
Alloways Creek pool where he swam 6 days a week in "Lane 1" for the remaining 14 years of life.
Forman lived a full, rich, and exciting life.
He is survived by several cousins and many good friends all around the world.
His cremated remains will be spread privately
PUBLISHED IN THE SOUTH JERSEY TIMES - APRIL 19, 2014
Forman Sinnickson Acton, Professor Emeritus of Computer Science at Princeton University, died at Friends Village at Woodstown, NJ on February 18, 2014 following a brief illness at the age of 93.
The only child of Elizabeth Forman Sinnickson Acton and William Harker Acton, he began his education in the Salem City School System. He left at the end of 9th grade to attend boarding school at Phillips Exeter Academy in Exeter, New Hampshire, where he graduated in 1939.
Forman entered Princeton University and majored in Engineering where he received his Bachelor of Science Degree in 1943 in Chemical Engineering in 1944.
The Army drafted him in 1944 and sent him to Spartansburg, SC for basic training. He considered himself a pretty good sharpshooter, but he didn't like marching and wasn't good at bayonet drills. He felt he could be of better use to the military effort elsewhere. During the 10th week of basic training, suddenly, he was transferred to a very technical plant in Oak Ridge, TN. This plant produced U-235 that was the explosive part of the Hiroshima bomb.
In December of 1945, Forman was given an honorable discharge from the Army Corp of Engineers. Ohio State University needed math teachers for the flood of returning veteran soldiers who wanted to enter college.
Forman wanted to do graduate work with the chairman of the math department, John L. Synge. Through Forman's connections, a military officer applied to the Army for Forman's release. Acton remained at Ohio State for only six months since Dr. Synge was leaving to start a major program in Applied Math - a rarity in America and even in Europe. Forman's interests were in using math in engineering studies. He was a graduate student for 3 years at Carnegie.
Acton became only the second graduate from Carnegie Institute of Technology to earn his Doctor of Science Degree in Applied Math.
He accepted a job with the National Bureau of Standards at an institute for Numerical Analysis at UCLA which was devoted to the new electronic computing machines. They were building two, one in D. C. and the other in Los Angeles. Forman worked on one of the first digital computers called SWAC(Standards Western Automatic Computer). Entering at the ground floor level, he was a pioneer in computers.
Acton began teaching in the math department at Princeton University in the Analytical Research Group in 1952. He worked on military weapons projects troubleshooting army rockets which were exploding in their launchers and he was involved in the design of Nike Conventional Warheads.
During this period of time, he became a computer expert. In 1956, the Engineering School asked him to join them to design applied scientific and engineering problem-solving courses.
In 1963, Forman accompanied the first computer to the Indian Institute of Technology near Kanpur, India where he helped set up the computer center and where he began teaching classes. He remained for one year.
Computers were developing rapidly and the India Institute of Technology had received a big IBM machine and requested that he return in the spring of 1967 to teach a six month course and offer organizational advice.
Forman once asked Luther Eisenhart, Dean of Faculty at Princeton, "When are you going to start teaching math so engineers could understand it?" According to a Smithsonian transcript, Eisenhart at that moment appointed Forman an instructor of math with a course assignment starting in two weeks.
"I had never lectured in front of a class in my life and I went out of the office with my knees shaking," Forman said. "That's how I got into math. That's how I got into most things, sticking my neck out at inappropriate times."
In 1985, the Computer Science Dept. was established in the engineering dept. of Princeton.
He spent many summer days writing his textbooks at his cabin on Woodmere Lake in Quinton Twp. He authored 3 published textbooks; Analysis of Straight-Line Data, Numerical Methods That usually Work, and Real Computing Made-Real Preventing Errors in Scientific and Engineering Calculations.
Forman taught at Princeton for 37 years, retiring in 1990.
A former student and long-time friend described Forman as being "an exquisite teacher of the the things that he learned."
Forman felt that travels should belong in the cultural education category.
Wherever he was living, he took advantage of visiting those countries that bordered him. Acton was a seasoned world traveler and was especially fond of Germany where he visited yearly. He loved to tour museums and visit old friends. He studied the architecture of the cathedrals and abbey churches in the Rhine Region. His first and only sailing adventure was crewing on a 39' ketch from Hawaii to San Francisco in 31 days and using a sextant as his only navigational aid.
Forman loved food - the spicier the better, fine wines from the Mosel Valley, and classical music.
When he turned 80, he decided he needed regular physical exercise so he joined the Lower
Alloways Creek pool where he swam 6 days a week in "Lane 1" for the remaining 14 years of life.
Forman lived a full, rich, and exciting life.
He is survived by several cousins and many good friends all around the world.
His cremated remains will be spread privately
Forman Sinnickson Acton, Professor Emeritus of Computer Science at Princeton University, died at Friends Village at Woodstown, NJ on February 18, 2014 following a brief illness at the age of 93.
The only child of Elizabeth Forman Sinnickson Acton and William Harker Acton, he began his education in the Salem City School System. He left at the end of 9th grade to attend boarding school at Phillips Exeter Academy in Exeter, New Hampshire, where he graduated in 1939.
Forman entered Princeton University and majored in Engineering where he received his Bachelor of Science Degree in 1943 in Chemical Engineering in 1944.
The Army drafted him in 1944 and sent him to Spartansburg, SC for basic training. He considered himself a pretty good sharpshooter, but he didn't like marching and wasn't good at bayonet drills. He felt he could be of better use to the military effort elsewhere. During the 10th week of basic training, suddenly, he was transferred to a very technical plant in Oak Ridge, TN. This plant produced U-235 that was the explosive part of the Hiroshima bomb.
In December of 1945, Forman was given an honorable discharge from the Army Corp of Engineers. Ohio State University needed math teachers for the flood of returning veteran soldiers who wanted to enter college.
Forman wanted to do graduate work with the chairman of the math department, John L. Synge. Through Forman's connections, a military officer applied to the Army for Forman's release. Acton remained at Ohio State for only six months since Dr. Synge was leaving to start a major program in Applied Math - a rarity in America and even in Europe. Forman's interests were in using math in engineering studies. He was a graduate student for 3 years at Carnegie.
Acton became only the second graduate from Carnegie Institute of Technology to earn his Doctor of Science Degree in Applied Math.
He accepted a job with the National Bureau of Standards at an institute for Numerical Analysis at UCLA which was devoted to the new electronic computing machines. They were building two, one in D. C. and the other in Los Angeles. Forman worked on one of the first digital computers called SWAC(Standards Western Automatic Computer). Entering at the ground floor level, he was a pioneer in computers.
Acton began teaching in the math department at Princeton University in the Analytical Research Group in 1952. He worked on military weapons projects troubleshooting army rockets which were exploding in their launchers and he was involved in the design of Nike Conventional Warheads.
During this period of time, he became a computer expert. In 1956, the Engineering School asked him to join them to design applied scientific and engineering problem-solving courses.
In 1963, Forman accompanied the first computer to the Indian Institute of Technology near Kanpur, India where he helped set up the computer center and where he began teaching classes. He remained for one year.
Computers were developing rapidly and the India Institute of Technology had received a big IBM machine and requested that he return in the spring of 1967 to teach a six month course and offer organizational advice.
Forman once asked Luther Eisenhart, Dean of Faculty at Princeton, "When are you going to start teaching math so engineers could understand it?" According to a Smithsonian transcript, Eisenhart at that moment appointed Forman an instructor of math with a course assignment starting in two weeks.
"I had never lectured in front of a class in my life and I went out of the office with my knees shaking," Forman said. "That's how I got into math. That's how I got into most things, sticking my neck out at inappropriate times."
In 1985, the Computer Science Dept. was established in the engineering dept. of Princeton.
He spent many summer days writing his textbooks at his cabin on Woodmere Lake in Quinton Twp. He authored 3 published textbooks; Analysis of Straight-Line Data, Numerical Methods That usually Work, and Real Computing Made-Real Preventing Errors in Scientific and Engineering Calculations.
Forman taught at Princeton for 37 years, retiring in 1990.
A former student and long-time friend described Forman as being "an exquisite teacher of the the things that he learned."
Forman felt that travels should belong in the cultural education category.
Wherever he was living, he took advantage of visiting those countries that bordered him. Acton was a seasoned world traveler and was especially fond of Germany where he visited yearly. He loved to tour museums and visit old friends. He studied the architecture of the cathedrals and abbey churches in the Rhine Region. His first and only sailing adventure was crewing on a 39' ketch from Hawaii to San Francisco in 31 days and using a sextant as his only navigational aid.
Forman loved food - the spicier the better, fine wines from the Mosel Valley, and classical music.
When he turned 80, he decided he needed regular physical exercise so he joined the Lower
Alloways Creek pool where he swam 6 days a week in "Lane 1" for the remaining 14 years of life.
Forman lived a full, rich, and exciting life.
He is survived by several cousins and many good friends all around the world.
His cremated remains will be spread privately
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