It is with great sadness I learned that Robert H. (Bob) Good passed away August 2008 after a battle with prostate cancer. He was a professor and department chair for 42 years at Cal State Hayward. Although he authored a textbook entitled “Classical Electromagnetism”, Bob was best known for his computer simulations on the Apple II platform which he distributed for $5. Worth at least 10 times that amount, they were repackaged by Laserpoint Software for $30 and ported to the PC platform for Physics Academic Software for $50, he never accepted a dime of royalties. “Give it to your brilliant student programmer–he deserves it more than I do” he told then software entrepreneur Paul Robinson (which Paul did–whose student Jay Olbernolte went on and founded FarSight Studios and later programmed for Electronic Arts). Bob was a regular at NCN AAPT as well as national AAPT meetings and known for his pithy nonetheless inspiring style. He was not flashy although his software demonstrations were sometimes spectacular–he let the physics take the credit. He was a passionate teacher who had the ability to make physics transparent for learners far-below his ability without being the least bit of condescension (a trail not always true of physics professors). He was a regularly attended NCN AAPT meetings for many years and was the recipient of NCN AAPT’s Distinguised Service Citation. Bob was 76. He will be sorely missed by all those who knew him.”
— Paul Robinson, NCN AAPT
References:
- /www.webassign.net/pas/physics_simulations/physsim.html (Physics Academic Software)
- www20.csueastbay.edu/news/category-pages/archive-pre-2009/the-view/obits/article-30.html (obituary)