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SAN DIEGO—Dr. Norman E. Sondak came to San Diego in 1978 to head the Information Systems Department at San Diego State University, and he taught in the department until his retirement in 2005, at which time he became professor emeritus. Dr. Sondak was recognized as Outstanding Professor in the Information Systems Department in 1981 and 1984, and received the President’s Certificate of Recognition in 1979.
Dr. Sondak received his doctorate with honors from Yale University and was one of the leading pioneers in the field of computing. Dr. Sondak worked in computer applications and in the development of large-scale computer systems.
He was vice president in charge of all computer operations at J. Walter Thompson Co. for several years, where among other innovative projects he was responsible for the computerized analysis of marketing data that led to the decision to produce the Ford Mustang. In 1967, he left the lucrative business side of computing to pursue his goal of entering academia. Dr. Sondak developed one of the first computer science degree programs in the country at Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI) in Worcester, Mass.
He started with a graduate program and then offered a bachelor’s degree in the new field of computer science. During his tenure, he received the President’s Award for Outstanding Teaching. Dr. Sondak also was founding director of the Worcester Area College Computation Center.
Dr. Sondak won many other honors and awards for his achievements, and was National Lecturer for two prestigious computer organizations during his long, illustrious career. He wrote more than a dozen books (including several groundbreaking textbooks and an award-winning “Layman’s Dictionary of Computer Technology,” which he co-wrote with his wife Eileen back in the early ’70s). He wrote several books on computers in medicine, some of them with his eldest son, Vernon.
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Dr. Sondak wrote hundreds of articles and tutorials, and was a regular contributor to several publications, including Computers in Medicine (where he served as editor and wrote monthly columns) and the San Diego Weekly News. He also wrote various computer-related articles for the San Diego Union. Dr. Sondak was a computer consultant for decades, and worked with local and international businesses, the state of Hawaii, and the Pacific Marine Fisheries Commission.
Dr. Sondak served with distinction as an officer in the U.S. Army. He was married for 55 years and is survived by his wife Eileen, daughter Emily and son-in-law Dr. Robert Nudelman, and sons Bradley and Dr. Vernon Sondak, and their wives: Beth Sondak and Sue Middleton. He also leaves four beloved grandchildren: Sarah and Leah Nudelman (students at Duke University and Washington University in St. Louis, respectively) and Allison and Ryan Sondak.
Dr. Sondak was an avid science-fiction aficionado and wrote sci-fi book reviews for the San Diego Union in the 1980s. When he retired, Dr. Sondak turned his hobby for photography into a part-time profession, taking photos for articles in local publications, including the San Diego Jewish Journal and The Californian. He enjoyed attending arts performances and charity events with his wife, and was a lifelong sports enthusiast. In fact, he assisted his son Bradley in the press box, filing sports reports for The Sports Network at many Chargers and Padres games over the years.
Dr. Sondak suffered from Parkinson’s disease for more than 10 years, and succumbed to a heart attack Nov. 5 at the age of 78. The funeral was held at El Camino Memorial Park. The family requests that in lieu of flowers, donations in his name be made to his favorite causes: Kids’ Turn San Diego, the National Parkinson Foundation, and the Cutaneous Oncology Program at Moffitt Cancer Center in Tampa, Fla.
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