Bob Lucky Passed Away
Robert Wendell Lucky (Bob Lucky) passed away on March 10, 2022, at the age of 86. He was a research engineer and a manager at multiple levels at Bell Labs and Bellcore. Bob was a pioneer and a leader in our research fields and technical societies.
Mar 23, 2022

Image of Robert Lucky

Robert Wendell Lucky (Bob Lucky) passed away on March 10, 2022, at the age of 86. He was a research engineer and a manager at multiple levels at Bell Labs and Bellcore. Bob was a pioneer and a leader in our research fields and technical societies. A landmark outcome of his work is the invention of the adaptive equalizer to address a particular type of distortion known as intersymbol interference (ISI). This line of work enabled high-speed modem technology and paved the way to high-density recording. Most importantly, it taught us general principles of how (not) to fight ISI. Bob's writings and speeches about technology, society, and engineering culture have inspired and entertained generations of engineers. His regular IEEE Spectrum column was often the first page we read in the magazine. Bob served as the editor of the IEEE Proceedings, president of the Communications Society, chairman of the FCC Technological Advisory Council, and various other roles in technical societies, universities, and government. Bob was a Fellow of the IEEE and a member of the National Academy of Engineering. His awards include the 1987 Marconi Prize, the 1995 IEEE Edison Medal, and the 1998 Golden Jubilee Award for Technological Innovation from the IEEE Information Theory Society.