Gary Starkweather passed away on Dec 26, 2019 at the age of 81.
Gary invented the laser printer, solving the problem of how to print within seconds anything on your computer screen. Before the laser printer, office printers were limited in output and speed using character or line printers. 50 years after the invention of the laser printer, it is obvious the laser was the right way to solve the quality and speed problem. Gary’s gift of invention was his perseverance to find the right way to solve a design problem, arriving at a solution when explained it was obvious it was the best solution. Going back in time 50 years ago the resistance to commit to the laser printer for high performance office printing was so high Gary’s only option to finish his invention was to move from corporate to a supportive environment at Xerox PARC.
The invention of the laser printer was a catalyst for the imaging software in printers and computers. One startup, Adobe Inc came from PARC’s work, and they ran into the same corporate resistance. A Xerox executive said “If you think it’s so hot, go form your own company.” Steve Jobs recognized the value of Adobe and failed to buy the company in 1982 for $5 million. In 2020, Adobe Inc has a market capitalization twenty (20) times bigger than Xerox. If Xerox had 5% ownership of Adobe it would double the current market cap. How many other opportunities did Xerox miss because brilliant inventors like Gary Starkweather had to leave headquarters or the company to complete their work and persevere?
Gary’s next move after Xerox was to Apple, working in Research and printing groups, but after 10 years Gary was running into the same resistance to invention he had with Xerox executives. In 1997, Gary made one more radical move as he did from Rochester, NY to Palo Alto, CA and joined Microsoft in Redmond, WA. At age 60, Gary finally found a work environment where his skills as a persistent problem solver were valued as he found a home in Microsoft Research. Gary retired 8 years later. For the next 13 years Gary continued to be a learner and a mentor, sharing his life’s experiences to the next generation of inventors while experiencing their discoveries.
Gary had a gift of discovering the problems worth solving. Being a big problem solver Gary would be thinking 5 or more years in the future. Gary’s favorite Einstein quote he shared, “Imagination is more important than knowledge.” Conversations with Gary would follow this theme as you imagine how things could be in the future and are you solve the problem in the right way that lasts.
The invention of the laser printer was over 50 years ago and for the past 50 years Gary has shared his passion to persevere. “One of the crucial things for people to know – especially young people getting started – is that perseverance is so important. Failure is important to success – whether it’s a child learning how to walk, roller skate or ice skate, you fall down a lot – that’s the key to learning how to do it.”
“The laser printer is arguably the greatest invention made in a Xerox research center,” said Steve Hoover, chief technology officer, Xerox Corporation.
Sharing thoughts with his alma mater Michigan State in an interview Gary said, “I’ve had the great good fortune of God’s blessing in allowing me to have more joy and more thrills than I ever thought I could expect to have.”
Gary and I have been friends for 31 years from the days we were both at Apple through time at Microsoft and after. Reflecting on the past 31 years and researching his past writings guided me in a brief tribute to a special man whose words and advice still play in my mind. Gary Starkweather is a man who deserves to be memorialized for future generations of inventors and that is something I plan to do for the rest of my life.
— Dave Ohara