Alan Kotok; he tred vanguard of computers with brilliance, wit

Alan Kotok, a pioneer in computer science, died on May 26 at age 64 from an apparent heart attack. As an MIT undergraduate in the late 1950s, he devised a computer chess program and later helped create Spacewar, the world's first video game, and the first joystick. After graduating from MIT, he spent 34 years at Digital Equipment Corp., where he was an early employee and a key designer of computers like the PDP-6 and chief architect of the PDP-10. More recently, he held a leadership role as associate chairman with the World Wide Web Consortium, where he was known for his "super-geek" credentials, brilliance, wit, and gentle but persistent force for good. He was married to Judith McCoy, sharing a deep love for organ music, and was deeply affected by her death six months prior. Kotok is survived by his three children, Leah, Daryl Beck, and Frederica Beck, and two grandchildren. A private funeral was held, with a memorial service planned at MIT.