In Memoriam

EMC Pioneer Andy Hish Dies at 82
Andy Hish, an engineer who began his career when EMI was termed radio interference, died Tuesday February 21, 2006 in Santa Clarita, CA. Although known to all as Andy, he was born Delbert Mark Hish in North Loup, NB on September 12, 1923. Raised in Huntington, NB, he worked as a projectionist at the local theater, where he met the cashier Carol, who was to become his first wife. When the United States entered World War II, Andy volunteered and joined the Merchant Marine as a radio operator. His wartime duties took him to both Russia and the Philippines. When hostilities ended, he traveled to Los Angeles and took a job as a radio mechanic with Western Airlines. At night he took courses in electrical engineering. Ultimately, he received his degree in engineering from UCLA. A few years later, he was offered a position with the Stoddart Aircraft Radio Company by Al Parker, the company’s chief engineer. Stoddart Aircraft Radio had been formed in the late 1930s by Richard (Dick) Stoddart, who had served as radioman for Howard Hughes when he achieved a “Round the World” record in 1937. During his tenure with Stoddart, Andy worked on the design of one of the first field intensity measuring receivers, the Model PRM-1. This battery-operated device was developed for the U.S. Navy’s Bureau of Ships and operated from 150 Kc (KHz) to 30 Mc (MHz). Eventually, Andy left Stoddart and, along with several other engineers and technicians, formed a new company, EMC Instrumentation of North Hollywood, CA. This company developed the Model EMA-910 microwave field intensity-measuring receiver, which operated from 1 Gc (GHz) to 40 Gc (GHz). When EMC Instrumentation was purchased by the Singer Company of Bridgeport, CT, Andy stayed on as the chief engineer of the North Hollywood Division. After retiring from Singer, Andy formed his own company in Van Nuys, CA. Over the years, Andy Hish Associates developed various products such as an impulse generator calibrator; a broadband EMI detector; an ELT direction finder; and the ESD-254 and ESD-255 electrostatic discharge generators—as well as several classified products. During his long career, Andy contributed generously to the engineering profession. He helped found the first Professional Groups on Radio Interference in Los Angeles. Today the PGRFI groups are called EMC groups. Andy served in many capacities with both the IEEE EMC Society and the SAE (Society of Automotive Engineers). Andy retired in 1994 and enjoyed his life at home with his wife Doris and the numerous cats they adopted or who had the good sense to adopt them. He was instrumental in starting the homeless shelter in the Santa Clarita Valley and was an avid reader who loved history, music, poetry, and plays and keeping in touch with old friends. While he will be profoundly missed by his colleagues, his many contributions will be remembered.
Editor’s Note: This obituary was reprinted with permission from the March 2, 2006 issue of Interference Technology eNews.

Former EMC Society Board Member “Navy Joe” Fisher Dies at 82

Good friends and EMC colleagues, Steve Caine, Joe Fisher, and Ernie Magyar (from left) are shown in this photo from 2002.

Joseph James Fisher, 82, an electronics engineer, died of skin cancer May 19, 2006 at Sunrise of Rockville assisted living facility, where he resided. Mr. Fisher worked primarily for the Navy, retiring in 1984 after 21 years as the electromagnetic control branch head at the Naval Air Systems Command. He previously worked for the Bureau of Naval Weapons, where he was responsible for directing the Weapons Interference Reduction Effort, a naval program to reduce electromagnetic interference in the Atlantic Fleet. He was born in Larksville, PA, and graduated from the Capitol Radio Engineering Institute in Washington, where he later taught. He also attended the Television Training Institute in Philadelphia and the Central Radio and Television school in Kansas City, MO. He served in the Navy during World War II as an electronics engineer aboard the heavy cruiser Tuscaloosa and flew on observation flights from a carrier-launched craft. After the war, Mr. Fisher finished school, then taught for several years before going to work as a civilian for the Navy. After his retirement, he worked as a consultant in engineering. In 1964, Mr. Fisher was named engineer of the year by the Bureau of Naval Weapons’ professional engineers society. He served two terms on the Board of Directors of the IEEE EMC Society, was a founding member of the dB Society, and was a member of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks.
Editor’s Note: Many thanks to Joe Fisher’s daughter Becky Kuhn for providing this information.