NORMAN NAPIER Obituary

NAPIER, Norman C. III "Bud" Of Cambridge, died peacefully at his home on Friday, October 19th. Born in Arlington, Virginia, he attended Greenbrier Mililtary School and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Bud led a full life as an engineer, entrepreneur, father, mentor, and avid aviator. During the 50's and 60's, Bud was engaged and often led cutting edge projects at MIT Lincoln Laboratory as a student and as an engineer at MIT's Instrumentation Laboratory (now the C.S. Draper Laboratory). These development projects for the nation's national defense and space programs included Polaris and Poseidon Sea Launched Ballistic Missles, Deep Submergence Rescue Vehicle and the Apollo Program. He later left to pursue his own start-up company and several others after that in the field of computer and systems engineering. At the same time, he developed mentor relationships with many Boston-area computer engineers, who went on to start their own companies. Bud's true passion though was for aviation; in particular, flying his own plane. He became an instrument rated instructor flying to many small airports of the Eastern Seaboard. Bud is survived by his loving children, N.C. Michael Napier IV of Kuwait, Christine Stephenson of Springfield, VA, and Kimberly Napier Fitzpatrick of Carlisle, MA. He always regarded his three children, Kim, Chris, and Mike, as his greatest achievement and reward in this life. Also survived by 6 cherished grandchildren and many other loving relatives and friends. Relatives and friends are invited to call on Thursday, October 25th, at the Rogers Funeral Home, 380 Cambridge Street, CAMBRIDGE, MA 02141 from 2-5 PM. A celebration of his life will be held on Friday, October 26th at the MIT Chapel, 48 Massachusetts, Ave., Cambridge, MA 02139 at 2:00 PM. Interment will be private in Concord, MA. In lieu of flowers, donations in his memory may be made to St. Elizabeth's Medical Center, 736 Cambridge St., Brighton, MA 02135.