We Remember

This page is for us as community to remember members of ISSS and also to recognize individuals who have made a significant contribution to the field of systems.

 

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Charles Bocage died of a heart attack on August 21, 2020.

 

Charles was a regular contributor to the early Saturday online ISSS SIG Sessions. His last ISSS conference was Corvallis 2019. He was a member of the Science, Spirituality and Systems Science SIG and the Systems and Mental Health SIG. Here is a video recording of the graduate student Charles Bocage at ISSS Corvallis 2019

 

He was a consultant specializing in human resources, specifically employee selection, strategic planning, financial management, personality assessment and academic and career advising. He had an impressive background that spanned leadership in the US Military with responsibility for operations and deployment of over 240,000 servicemen and women and 6,000 aircraft and ships throughout the Pacific and East Africa. He served in executive administrative positions with leading academic institutions. While Director of the Hawaii Technology Institute, he revolutionized the curriculum by developing a state of the art, technology based, Career Development Program which provided students with the skills to obtain careers after graduation at a 95% employment outcome. The Career Development Program was widely recognized and praised by the Accrediting Commission resulting in an astounding initial five-year accreditation appointment. His doctoral studies at Saybrook University were related to improving leadership within the family, specifically foster parent training by demystifying spirituality. Up until he died he wanted to provide a structure to increase the success of trauma mediation using secular spirituality techniques such as mindfulness meditation and yoga.

 

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Jack Ring peacefully passed away on April 22nd, 2020, at the age of 85 in Mesa, AZ after a hard battle with liver cancer.  Jack has been an active supporter of Systems Science development. He contributed to the joint programs between ISSS and INCOSE.  Up until weeks before his death he was participating in online meetings with joint ISSS and INCOSE members to develop a proposed ISO standard "Do No Harm".  He was a keen supporter of the Systems Literacy Initiative. He worked with Derek Caberra educating K-12 students on systems concepts and approaches. Jack was a member of ISSS. He recently authored a Technical Report for INCOSE entitled "About Intelligent Enterprises:A Collection of Knowledge Claims" available from the INCOSE website.

 

From Len Troncale. Past-President and fomer Executive Director ISSS "he was always on the alert for bringing in new, younger voices that might have something to contribute. What will we do without him? I will very much miss his stimulating challenges and his sponsorship. Jack, despite his challenges, was a very loving and giving person.  We are a little bit less a people with his passing."

 

He was born in St John, Kansas on April 14th, 1935, also known as Black Sunday.  He is survived by his wife, Mary Lou, whom he resided with in Gilbert, AZ; his sister, Barbra Atterbery from Tribune, KS; his son, Jordan Ring from Glendale, AZ; his daughter, Kelly Ring Orosy from Krum, TX; and his stepchildren and grandchildren. Jack graduated from St John High School and Emporia State College, where he earned a Bachelor of Science in Chemistry.  Jack had a passion for Science and Technology and was a member of several professional societies, including MENSA and INCOSE.  Jack volunteered many hours as a mentor to his peers, and served as Board and Council members for numerous organizations, including The University of Advancing Technology and Starshine Academy.  In his later years, he devoted his time to researching how people think and learn, and worked to create a new teaching pedagogy to enhance the K-12 educational system.  He always had a love for red corvettes and racing cars, but nothing compared to his love for his wife, Mary Lou and his children.  Jack will be remembered for his kind heart, eccentric style, and superior intellect.  He was greatly loved and is greatly missed.

2002, Accounting and Management – A Systemic Approach to Action-Oriented Information, Macchi, 216 pages.

2003, Systemic Thinking – Walking the Road of Change or Changing the Road, Granica, 270 pages.

2005, Systemic Planning - a Strategic approach to managing under uncertainty, Ed Macchi.

 

ISSS Member Silvia Zweifel from Argentina created this tribute video.