ROGER E. SCHUBERT ’52

ROGER E. SCHUBERT, a pioneer in the computer business, died Feb. 22, 2009. He was 78. After receiving his degree with honors and with distinction in mathematics, he joined General Electric and continued from there to other technical firms, where he was on the leading edge of computerization of banking and printing, including the development of the Universal Product Code, the elimination of bank passbooks, and the conversion of printing systems from hot type to photography. After his retirement from Atex-Kodak, he was a RSVP volunteer for 20 years. Survivors include his wife, Barbara Hall Schubert, four children, nine grandchildren, and one great-grandson.

Roger Edward Schubert, 78, of Palm Coast, passed away, Sunday, Feb.22, 2009, at the Stuart F. Meyer Hospice House, Palm Coast, Fla., after a three-year battle with cancer. Roger was born on March 21, 1930, in Manchester, Conn., to Lena Roth & Max Schubert. A graduate of Manchester High School, 1948, and Wesleyan University, with Distinction, Middletown, Conn., 1952. He was a member of the DeMolay Masonic Lodge in Manchester and played on the football team at Wesleyan for four years. A veteran of the Korean War from 1952 to 1954. He and his loving and devoted wife Barbara were married for 56 years. He spent his entire business career as a pioneer in the computer business, starting at General Electric in Pittsfield, Mass., in 1954. In 1959 he joined Bunker Ramo in Stamford, Conn., to program and install the first savings bank on-line system, eliminating the use of the banking pass books. In 1965 at RCA in Princeton, N.J., he was systems manager devoted to converting the printing of newspapers, books and government documents from hot type to a photographic printing system for the first time. In 1971, his family moved to Westboro, Mass., where he worked with RCA, in Marlboro, to develop the Universal Product Code, in competition with IBM who won the UPC contract, and today is found on every product purchased. His career continued as Vice-President of Systems at Photon, Inc., Wilmington, Mass., then to the printing business at Atex-Kodak Bedford, Mass., in the ’80s where he retired in 1989. On retirement he and his wife, moved to Sea Colony in the Hammock, Palm Coast, Fla. Roger enjoyed golfing, cards, and crossword puzzles. He and his wife were active at the Palm Coast United Methodist Church. A great thinker, mathematician, debater, and humorist, he loved to watch the birds, the moon and stars, the sunrise and sunset, and appreciated great art and music. A RSVP volunteer for 20 years he worked with Whitney Labs and Marineland. Roger leaves his wife, Barbara, four children, nine grand children, and one great grandson.