Robert Roy Maxfield
Sept. 30, 1941-Aug. 13, 2024
Buchanan Dam, Texas
Robert Roy Maxfield, the M in ROLM, passed away unexpectedly on August 13th, 2024 at the age of 82 during his morning walk. He was doing what he enjoyed at the Texas lake he loved, but oh, he will be missed!
Bob grew up in Wichita Falls, Texas. From a young age he was interested in technology; he built a ‘computer’ in 8th grade. After excelling in Electrical Engineering at Rice University, he earned a PhD EE from Stanford University. In 1969, he and three other Rice alums (Ken Oshman, Walter Loewenstern, Gene Richardson) co-founded ROLM Corporation in Silicon Valley, building rugged computers for military applications. Six year later, utilizing superior technology, ROLM began to compete with analog giant AT&T in the telecommunications arena. It was so successful that IBM acquired the company in 1985 in the biggest deal Silicon Valley had seen to date.
After a brief stint in venture capital with Kleiner Perkins, Bob became a life-long personal mentor to and investor in start-ups whose founders he felt had the Right Stuff. He developed and taught Stanford’s first course in “Business Management for Engineers” and, from 1991 to 2007, enjoyed mentoring PhD candidates as a Consulting Professor in Stanford’s Management Science and Engineering Department.
Bob nurtured his deep interests in the economy, ancient history and artificial intelligence through independent study. The Santa Fe Institute, which takes a multi-disciplinary scientific approach to the study of complex adaptive systems, ignited his intellectual curiosity. Bob became more than an ardent supporter and three-decade board member; he authored and co-authored publications with scientists on economics and adaptive systems that have been widely cited.
Serving on the Rice University Board of Trustees from 1994-2012, Bob headed the Finance committee for years. He was an active supporter and mentor of OpenStax, based at Rice, which has provided free online textbooks and resources to more than 36 million college students worldwide, saving them over $3 billion.
Bob was a life-long athlete, especially favoring water sports. He was a Texas Champion swimmer in high-school and continued swimming throughout his life. He loved paddle boarding, sailing, and even recently mastering the E Foil. His love of Scuba diving took him around the world, logging over a thousand dives. He was also a graceful, accomplished snow and water skier.
After taking a race-driving class in the 80s, he was convinced that fast was the only way to go, and not only in his beloved Porsche 911 Turbo. He then got his pilot’s license and happily logged thousands of hours in his Citation Jet. Bob received numerous awards and honors. The award for being named Entrepreneur of the Year by Harvard Business School in 1980 took pride of place on his desk.
A generous philanthropist, Bob supported Rice University, OpenStax, the Santa Fe Institute, Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital, Stanford University, the Computer History Museum, the Tech Museum, Montalvo Arts Center, and more. His youngest daughter’s death from leukemia at age 14 motivated him to spearhead the development of the National Bone Marrow Donor Registry.
Bob was adored by his family. He will be greatly missed and remembered by his second wife of 34 years, his oldest daughter, his son-in-law and their two children, along with his brother, sister and their families.
To honor Bob, please consider supporting OpenStax, the Santa Fe Institute, or Lucile Packard Foundation for Children’s Health, citing “in honor of Bob Maxfield”.
Tags: business
