Sun techie remembered as enthusiastic leader, mentor
By Anthony Cataldo
EE Times
(09/14/01, 10:42 a.m. EST)
SAN MATEO, Calif. — Sun Microsystems Inc. fellow Bob Sproull remembers the time he was detained by colleague Philip Rosenzweig in 1991, the year Rosenzweig joined Sun.
Excited as a new parent showing off baby pictures, Rosenzweig asked Sproull to peer at a file access system for PCs, a function at the time normally reserved for high-end workstations and servers.
"He wouldn't let me out of the office without giving me the latest demo," said Sproull, whose office was two doors away.
That's the kind of enthusiasm Rosenzweig is being remembered for by colleagues at Sun's office in Burlington, Mass. in the aftermath of the American Airlines Flight 11's crash into the World Trade Center on Tuesday, killing Rosenzweig and 80 other passengers. He was 47.
Tall, lanky and often seen flashing a smile, Rosenzweig was known both for his technical acumen and ability to rally a team of engineers behind a project by organizing events like bicycling trips. His knack for being personable proved useful in keeping people motivated and recruiting new talent.
"He was a persuader by enthusiasm, not by authority or some other less pleasant techniques," Sproull said.
The PC network file-sharing system, which involved some 200 software engineers, went on to become a successful product for Sun, and earned Rosenzweig a reputation for thoroughness and doing more than expected. He was also known for meeting deadlines.
In his next major project at Sun, Rosenzweig helped co-develop a Java-based multicast service, for which he held several patents. Six months ago, he became director of horizontal scaling within Sun's Software Systems Group and was in the process of building a team for the new endeavor.
As a manager, Rosenzweig would take time to nurture younger employees, some of whom went on to become project leaders.
"He listened and helped them as individuals to problem-solve and especially to grow," said Sproull.
When he wasn't on the job or spending time with his family, Rosenzweig could sometimes be found at driving schools learning to race his Porsche Boxter.
Rosenzweig was born and raised in Brooklyn, New York, and received a computer science degree from the Rochester Institute of Technology in 1976. A resident of Acton, Mass., he is survived by his wife, Lauren Suskin, and two sons, Jeremy and Max.
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