Obituary of William Everett Lieska

William Everett Lieska "That measurement is 2mm off!" said Bill. For anyone who has had the pleasure of working on a project with Bill, declarations like that were both challenging and invigorating. Challenging because everyone knew it would have to be redone; invigorating because of the ultimate satisfaction that came from having completed a project to the absolute best of your ability. This aspiration to perfection, whether building an originally-designed cabinet in his home shop or satisfying an overseas customer's complex technology needs, was but one facet of the kaleidoscopic personality of this accomplished, gregarious and humble human being. Bill's story, whose corporeal conclusion was at home in the arms of his beloved Paulette on the first day of Summer 2012, began on the family farm in south central Michigan on October 5, 1951. It was in the close-knit family of father George, mother Helen and older brother Norm that Bill began the evolution of his incomparable work ethic and knack for innovation, traits that were to characterize his approach to all aspects of his work and play. Graduating from Hudson High School in 1969 (after being in the Waldron school district until his junior year), Bill earned his bachelor's degree from Eastern Michigan University. Being in the shadow of Detroit, it is important to note that this era of Bill's early adult years was characterized automotively by his 1969 Pontiac Firebird, a time shared with life-long high school friends Dave Warner and Steve Williams. Simultaneously Bill had redesigned a 450cc Honda motorcycle into a homemade chopper á la the then current counterculture lure of "Easy Rider." Near the end of this era, in the Fall of 1975, Bill was to meet the love of his life, Paulette. Bill had recently entered, via mailroom employment at an Ann Arbor, Michigan, company Comshare, into the industry that was to become his entire post-college career—technology. Paulette was substituting for a friend on the Comshare bowling team, and Bill was watching the alley action that evening. After asking to see her home—and just that—Bill and Paulette's first date was Bill's invitation to his Ypsilanti apartment for dinner. One of his favorite food combinations at the time—mashed potatoes with pork liver and gravy—were to be the bill-of-fare for that first dinner date (Paulette concealed well her absence of meat from her diet). Neither ever looked back, and their marriage followed on July 30, 1977. Bill additionally became the loving stepfather to Paulette's sons, Paul and Jon Turner that day. A series of jobs followed as Bill worked his way from the Comshare mailroom into increasingly sophisticated positions in circuit board design and engineering projects amongst several small Ann Arbor electronics firms. During this time Bill and Paulette realized their dream of purchasing some rural acreage outside Ann Arbor (Dexter-Chelsea) and designing and building a "green" home before this was the vogue—they moved there in 1986. This was a very formative time in Bill and Paulette's creative lives as they explored a seemingly endless list of interests outside of their careers. Bill pursued woodworking, leaded glass, organic vegetable gardening/sales, building construction, antique restoration and garden implement sales. Paulette completed her master's degree and began doctoral work, raised Angora rabbits and wove their hair into garments, secured a herd of llamas and pursued leaded glass creation, gardening and antique restoration with Bill. It was also during this era that Bill met a colleague whose mentorship in the industry and continuing friendship were to prove pivotal in his professional and private lives. Mike Fister came to Machine Vision International to "make eyes for robots," a computer designer who had spent his formative years at Intel and then creating much of the robotic control electronics at a major machine tool manufacturer. This startup brought a "dynamic duo" who transformed some wonderful intellect into products and systems to install windshields with robots, sort tomatoes and green beans, and inspect painted surfaces on cars, to name of few of the uses for this science fiction technology. Bill's work ethic was contagious as he often spent "all-nighters" managing (and wiring himself) the production builds and he was a role model to many young people, pushing them to realize their maximum potential. His competitive spirit was often recollected, whether it was betting imaginary cases of beer on paper wads into a trash can at 25 feet, or rallying a tired bunch of people who were asleep in a corporate apartment in sleeping bags near an Auto plant in Flint to get up to watch the systems during the 3rd shift and to extract the expert-system learnings to be applied in the morning... Bill and Mike also often spent all-nighters in sweat-equity, building Bill and Paulette's earth-sheltered "green" abode, singing to rock and roll and having a beer which Bill would be chilling in the snake-filled pond on the property—those were the days! It was through Mike Fister's influence that in 1994 that Bill made the career decision of his lifetime to move to California and join Mike back at Intel Corporation. The physical move itself was of epic caravan proportions, Bill moving his new "wheels"—his trademark 1993 green Jeep Wrangler that was to be his daily transportation to Intel for the next 17 years—a shop-full of tools and equipment, several hundred board-feet of prime woodworking lumber, the herd of llamas, sundry antiques in various stages of reconstruction, two other vehicles and two super-intelligent rescue cats, Simone and Kramer, over 2000 miles west to Folsom. Bill had gathered some incredible insights and connections for outsourced manufacturing and system's design at MVI. He brought his essential pragmatism to a bunch of silicon designers transforming the industry to prove the computers that used Intel silicon worked across the myriad of applications, environmental conditions, and sources of manufacture. It resulted in a building full of computers of various manufacture, running continuous regression on thousands of applications and for Bill to work with companies throughout Asia. Bill's competency and personality established a fit into the Intel culture that would in some ways defy its normal allergic reaction to industry veterans and rather build other life-long friends, one especially Duc Ngo. As Mike moved up the corporate infrastructure, he once again called his friend Bill and a very willing Paulette to leave the ultra-hot summers in Folsom and to work at an Intel facility in Dupont, Washington. This "outpost of sorts" is located about halfway between Olympia and Tacoma and was an extrapolation of the work begun in Folsom to support a $1B business that was a new piece of system's efforts where the essential system design was done by Intel and exported to willing manufacturers—so called "white box" and then branded with said manufacturer. Jeep Wrangler loaded again, they made the trek and settled in the "middle of nowhere" (as Mike put it) OR as Bill put it, "paradise"! Acres of land to raise llamas, build gardens, build a bigger workshop, and commune with nature... Bills' worldly jaunts took him even further and more often to Asia and especially all throughout China as he helped develop essential manufacturing relationships with component manufacturers for new technology and even the end-equipment manufacturers themselves. He developed a love of the vast lands and their transformation during these years and real appreciation for the culture—another kindred sync with his always-introspective Paulette with her spiritual medicine. Bill gave into another of his "loves" and bought a big motorcycle—a "hog" as he called it. In the countryside he was at peace riding for 100 miles at a time and often freezing his tail (as he would put it) early in the crisp Washington mornings. Bill's enthusiasm convinced his friend Mike to give it a whirl and buy a Ducati, which, as it turned out, would soon be owned by Bill's good friend Duc Ngo from Folsom. Duc and Bill rode countless places freezing, sweating, jarred, and numb but absolutely in "hog heaven" and dreaming of where the next adventure would take them... One of these adventures in March of 2003 took them daringly on the steep and winding unpaved hills and through the primitive villages within the Golden Triangle. Beginning in Thailand, Bill, Duc Ngo and Tony Basco crossed Thailand into Laos and Myanmar. For Bill, this journey was to leave deep and lasting impressions of the beauty, simplicity and genuine warmth of all those they met along their way. Bill was always dreaming about the "next piece of property" to build on and found their next place on Sunset Beach Drive in Olympia, much nearer the "big city." It had a great site for his wood shop and even better, the expansion plans for it. Anyone who knew Bill knew there were always at least three projects in play at any state in time. His work continued and he became a foundation of the Dupont Intel site as well as a confidant for many new technology suppliers and customers. During this period at the Dupont site, Bill began to focus more specifically with the Taiwan companies. With the frequency of his travels to Taiwan, Bill was viewed as a key member of the Taiwan server team offering strategic advice to the Taiwan server community. Bill was trusted and appreciated for his integrity and open-mindedness. Bill also made many close friends in Taiwan. In many respects, Taiwan became like a second home and a second family to Bill. In 2010, Bill began to think about retirement and finding, again, that "special piece of property" where he could once again work closely with the land and build their dream of a completely "green" home. After reviewing a variety of regions around the country, Bill and Paulette narrowed their property search to the Willamette Valley in Oregon where they planned to move after Bill's retirement. Bill would joke that it had to be Willamette Valley because the valley's name contained parts of both their names! Bill retired January 3, 2011 after a long and successful career in what would have seemed to some, an un-likely home at Intel, not only leaving his mark on an industry, but also on countless colleagues throughout the world. Settling into retirement, he actually had some time to finally work on those unfinished household projects and of course start a few more. Far from the family farm in Michigan, but never far from his roots, Bill shared his love of raised-bed and organic gardening, bonding even closer with Paulette's son Jon, which was precious to both but also a true "Father to his son" mentoring—Bill, ever the teacher and always quick to learn. While working on the completion of his shop, Bill ultimately discovered the disease within his body that too quickly took him from so many who were touched by him and who loved him; but his memory lives fondly within all of our hearts. Bill is lovingly remembered by his wife, Paulette; her sons, Jon and wife Gale, and Paul; his brother, Norm and sister-in-law, Kyra Semkova. Among the extended family that has loved and will miss Bill are his brother-in-law, Douglas Jones; sisters-in-law, Barbara Wenger and Michelle Mello; as well as all of his nieces and nephews. Thank you to our family, friends and Bill's colleagues who have collaborated to create this warm and special glimpse in to Bill's life. Please continue this deeper look into Bill's world by adding your own experiences, feelings, or whatever you wish to share to his guestbook on this website. --Paulette FOLLOWING ARE A COUPLE OF SPECIAL REMEMBRANCES OF BILL THAT HE'D WANT SHARED WITH HIS MANY FAMILY AND FRIENDS. The following poem was submitted by Norm Lieska and Kyra Semkova, Bill's brother and sister-in-law: Unity --written by Pablo Neruda There is something dense, united, seated in the depths, repeating its number, its identical sign. How clear it is that the stones have touched time, In their fine substance there is a smell of age and the water that the sea brings from salt and sleep. I am surrounded by just one thing, a single movement: the weight of the mineral, the light of the honey, they stick to the sound of the word "night": the shade of wheat, of ivory, of tears, things of leather, of wood, of wool, aged, faded, uniform things gather around me like walls. I work silently, wheeling over myself, like the crow over death, the crow in mourning. I think, isolated in the expanse of the seasons, central, surrounded by silent geography: a partial temperature falls from the sky, an ultimate empire of confused unities gathers surrounding me. A Tribute to Bill --written by Duc Ngo, one of his closest friends In Bill's book, there are friends and there are true friends, a kind of friendship that lasts forever. I am very fortunate to have been one of Bill's true friends. I first met Bill in the summer of 1994 at Intel in Folsom, California. I was one of a handful of people who interviewed him. Bill came across to me during the interview as a sincere, straight forward, no nonsense, and hard-working type. I was right about Bill, but he proved to be more than that. It was not until several years later, after Bill moved to Washington and our professional friendship expanded into a long distance personal friendship that I got to know the real Bill. We stayed in touch through emails and phone calls, but also by meeting for dinners and riding together whenever we had a chance or a free moment from our busy working and family life. He became my best friend! A true friend! I used to travel to Taiwan once or twice a year on business. It seems that every time I was in Taiwan, Bill was also there. He spent a lot of time in Taiwan since it was part of his job. He committed to it, not without great personal sacrifice, in an effort to excel in his job. And he did a great job. He knew everybody. I mean everybody, from engineers and managers to Intel executives as well as customers. Bill was a celebrity in Taiwan and everyone loved him. If you attended his retirement party in Taiwan or talk to people who attended, you would see how much they loved him. Bill's unique charisma made him a Taiwan celebrity, and he generously shared his good fortune with me. Bill introduced me to his large network of contacts as a way of helping me with my own work. Night after night he took me to the best restaurants after work. We shared many good drinks and laughs at a-hole-in-the-wall bar where he knew the owner. Bill knew his way around Taiwan better than most locals, and he always took good care of me whenever I was there. He took care of me like a brother. Bill and I also share a passion, namely motorcycle riding. In March of 2003, we spent a week in Thailand riding motorcycles, just me, Bill and Tony, my brother in law. Guess who organized that trip? Yes, it was Bill. It took him several months to organize this trip. We met in Chang Mai, Thailand and spent the next 7 days together bonding and riding through the northern part of Thailand, crossing Laos, Myanmar, and Golden Triangle. What a memory; we had such a good time. I just recently looked at the pictures we took on the trip and Bill had a big smile on every picture. He was so content and happy. Even now, I can close my eyes and visualize his face and his laughs. These pictures brought back such wonderful memories. That motorcycle trip cemented our friendship. We promised each other that we would make our best effort to ride together once a year. The following year, we decided that we would meet at Crater Lake, roughly halfway between Olympia, where he was living and Sacramento, where I live. This time Michele and Tony accompanied me, and Bill rode by himself from Olympia. As expected, Bill showed up with a big smile on his face. We spent the next 2 days riding, joking, and laughing together. The following year, Bill organized a 2500-mile ride that took us to Portland, Idaho, Montana, up along Canadian border, back to Washington, and ended up at Bill and Paulette's home in Olympia where we had a nice dinner and spent a night. I was glad that we made it back to Bill's house safely. I was riding Michele's bike with a worn sprocket and a chain that could have potentially come out anytime. Our adventure ended earlier than we'd planned but there were plenty of laughs at the dinners. Bill had a little special coffee maker that was designed specifically for a motorcyclist who's also a serious coffee drinker. It was very compact and included a little propane stove to heat up the water. Every morning, Bill got up early and had a cup of fresh coffee ready for me when I got out of my tent. It was one of those small gestures that showed a great deal of love and care. I am so blessed that he loved and cared for me. I am happy for Bill that he's in a better place now. Bill, you will be missed by so many but have left so many memories behind that you will never be forgotten. Thank you, Bill, for being a part of our lives. Please rest in peace and we'll meet again! Please leave memories of Bill or condolences for the family in the Guestbook below.