Occupation: I'm retired. I owned Consolidated Controls, and I founded Unimation in Danbury, the first industrial robot company. The robotics industry has called me "The Father of Robotics." Unimation was purchased by Westinghouse in the 1970s a
Occupation: Iâm retired. I owned Consolidated Controls, and I founded Unimation in Danbury, the first industrial robot company. The robotics industry has called me âThe Father of Robotics.â Unimation was purchased by Westinghouse in the 1970s and moved. I also formed Help Mate Robotics, robots that work in hospitals, running errands. The idea behind it is that it keeps nurses with their patients where they can do a better job. There are about 100 of them now in the United States, two at Danbury Hospital. We rented the robots to hospitals, but the company we sold to, Cardinal Health, assigned it to a California division where the robots were sold and that didnât work as well. Iâve had a lot of fun.
Family: My wife of 53 years died last August. We have two children. Jeff works for Eaton Corp in Bethel. Gay, our daughter, lives in Newtown, as does Jeff. My brother, John, lives close by in Brookfield.
Pets: Iâve had them all my life, but not now. Iâve had a shepherd, a boxer, and a black cat I named Rorschach after the inkblot test. My daughter caught the fever, though, and she has four cats.
How long have you lived in Newtown? Iâve lived here 50 years, in this house. The house started out as just a hunting lodge and Iâve added on a lot over the years.
What do you like to do in your free time? I paint, mostly oil painting. Iâve painted murals, pictures and Iâve painted almost all my life. I read a lot, especially journals and mysteries. One of my hobbies until recently was sailing. We had a 62-foot ketch. Iâm also trying to get a new robot concept started, a true multifunctional, care-giving robot to be a companion around the house.
Do you have a favorite author? It used to be I was highly impressed by Isaac Asimov. He taught at Columbia University, where I went at the behest of the Navy. He was my physics instructor and became a friend. He would come up and talk to us at Unimation and he would say, âI never thought anyone would really build a robot â I just wrote about it.â
Do you have a favorite travel destination? Iâve traveled so much. Iâve been to Japan 18 times. I like Japan and I like the people. There arenât too many places I havenât been. Iâve traveled all over Europe. Itâs really not bad right here in Newtown, though.
What is the best thing about Newtown? The big advantage is that there is no worst thing.
What changes have you seen in Newtown? From my vantage point, itâs the increase in traffic, which can be unpleasant. And they canât seem to figure out what to do with all the land at Fairfield Hills.
Do you have a hero? The presidents of the United States have always been my heroes, but Iâm a lifelong Republican now who is sorely disappointed. Weâll have to see who John McCain chooses for a running mate.
Do you have a personal philosophy? Never carry a grudge. The grudger hurts, but the person begrudged doesnât hurt at all. And now that Iâm 82, I tell my kids, it doesnât matter. Whatever upsets you, it doesnât matter.
What is the most important lesson you have learned? When youâre young and you have it, use it, and donât abuse it. When you have the full energy of youth, give it a full shot. It opens up opportunities.