Physics major throughout college, Math got there first; B.S. degree, Math for Physics Majors, New Mexico State University. Several electrical engineering classes. Worked my way through college at NMSU Research Center and University Observatory under Clyde Tombaugh, discover of Pluto.

Married 1960, divorced 1980, "found" Connie in 1986, moved in together 1989, married in 1992.

One son Kevin and one daughter Sonja. Sonja was high school Homecoming Queen in 1982, and lead cheerleader. Eight grandchildren: Erek, Hailey, Colette, Mark, Gregory, Joseph, Benjamin, Matthew. One great-grandchild: Isaiah. Grandson Erek served one year in combat in Iraq, 2005-2006, survived IED blast under his Humvee, back in Iraq Sept. 2007 as an Army sergeant, for 15 months!! In Afganistan Feb. 2010 for one year; shot in the shoulder, got Purple Heart.

Occupation: Software Design Engineer.

Employment: White Sands Missle Range, NMSU Observatory, Northrup Corporation, Sacramento Peak Observatory, Control Data Corporation, Hewlett Packard (1970-2001).

Career highlights: Eight years working in observatories. Ground 12" telescope mirror for Clyde Tombaugh. Wrote my first computer program (machine language) in 1959. Manned for one year (with astronomer Charles Capen) a remote mountain site for evaluation as an observatory. Worked two years for astrophysicist Dr. George Simon, who was later trained as an astronaut for the Shuttle flight that would have followed the Challenger disaster. Wrote math-analysis computer programs for astrophysicists. Helped develop the prototype operating system for the Cray 1 super-computer (1968). Many firsts at Hewlett Packard. Converted HP's first computer operating system to relocatable code to sit anywhere in memory. Created initial software for HP's first computer networking product (1972). Involved in early definition of internet packet protocol (mid-70's). Worked on HP's first email system. Total of 36 weeks in Detroit on computerized automotive electrical test system for GM, with a network of 52 computers throughout the plant, fail-safe dual central computer (1985). Six weeks total at Ferrari plant in Italy; ride in Ferrari F40 and Testarossa, two visits to Rome. Involved in HP's first database-driven dynamic web pages. First at HP to provide interactive web-page access to centralized Excel spreadsheets. Created first home page for HP spinoff Agilent Technologies (2001). In 2001, all our jobs were outsourced to India. So I took early retirement, thank you very much.

Life highlights: Mountain climbing club in college. Having four Pontiac Trans Ams, 1985-2006. Fast driving on curvy mountain roads. Auto-cross racing driving school. Spending the night alone on top of Half Dome in Yosemite. Finding my Hartsell ancestry back to 1580 Switzerland, and my ancestral Hartsell arrival in America in 1727. All the many adventures with my wife Connie - kayaking the Russian River, houseboating on Lake Powell, kayaking up Lake Powell canyons, the quicksand incident, 3-day & 4-day backpack trips mostly in the Yosemite high country, bear incidents, spending the night twice together on top of Half Dome, hiking up Mt. Whitney (14,495') three times, saving Connie's life three times.

Interests: Origin and physics of the universe, physics of fundamental particles of matter; genealogy, my website, Perl CGI scripting for website automation, photography.

Proudest accomplishments: After a lifetime of reading scientific journals and books - understanding why time exists, understanding where mass of ordinary matter comes from, understanding the likely origin of universes (plural), and why ours "worked". Dark energy overtaking gravity (www.jdhartsell.com/darkenergy.html). Reconstructing the life and finding the ancestry of my great-great grandfather David Hartzell (1805-1865). Finding a wife like Connie. My website, www.jdhartsell.com, online since 1998. Knowing more about computers than my grandkids.

Home projects: Do-it-yourself ceramic/marble tile on floors, countertops, walls; Pergo flooring; wallpaper; sinks & faucets; redwood decks; electrical; plumbing.

Magazines: Astronomy, Discover, Scientific American.

Retirement activities: Webmaster for the HP Retirees Club. Webmaster for Sunset Oaks Homeowners Association (245 homes). Writing CGI Perl scripts for website automation. Genealogy. Scanning & enhancing old photos. Running 6 miles every other day. Eating out. I LOVE eating out. Driving trips. I LOVE to drive. Enjoying large-screen plasma HDTV. Observing with my 8" reflector telescope. Following latest developments in the structure of the universe and matter.