In Memory of Don Deese

On Behalf of CMG President, Kevin Mobley & the CMG Board of Directors:

Donald Rae Deese 
(May 9, 1942 – August 23, 2016) 

Don Deese, 74, passed away on Tuesday, August 23, 2016 at his home in Hartfield, VA.

Professionally, Don was a true computer pioneer.  He received the A. A. Michelson Award from CMG in 1981 for his development of techniques to measure early computer system performance (think response time);  he also created the first Expert System tool to automatically detect and diagnose performance anomalies.

Don served as the first President of CMG from 1975 to 1977.  He helped guide CMG during its’ infancy to become the leading organization providing high quality educational opportunities to tens of thousands of performance engineers and capacity management professionals the world over.  Throughout the decades that followed, Don not only helped guide CMG but led sessions at CMG’s International Conference showing attendees how to make their computing systems perform more efficiently.  Without the leadership of Don and like-minded people, CMG would not have existed for so long nor would all of the thousands that attended Don’s sessions have benefited from his guidance and counsel.  CMG has lost one of it’s greats!

One of thirteen children, he is survived by Marilyn and Frank, as well as his sweetheart Nancy Roth, daughters Felicia Marie Deese & Carissa Ann Murray, and six grandchildren.  He enjoyed sailing, skiing, and traveling.

A memorial service will be on Saturday, August 27th at 11am at Andrews Funeral Home, 7192 Main Street, Gloucester, VA.  In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be sent to Hartfield Volunteer Fire Department.  Carpe Diem!

(Thanks to Dr. Barry Merrill and Chuck Hopf for notifying CMG of this sad loss to the CMG family.)

Donald Rae Deese Obituary