The Caw Foundation was named in memory of Dr. Bruce Nelson, who passed ​unexpectedly in September 1999. Bruce was a mentor, brilliant scientist, and free ​spirit who impacted countless lives. Known for his adventurous and ​unconventional personality, he was beloved for his daring nature, humor, and ​kindness. From wild escapades like cycling on the roof of his college library to ​winning costume contests, Bruce always lived life to the fullest.

Professionally, Bruce was a visionary technologist and served as Chief Science ​Officer at Cisco Systems. He was awarded the ACM Software Systems Award for ​his groundbreaking work in Remote Procedure Call (RPC), first described in his ​Ph.D. thesis at Carnegie Mellon.

Bruce’s deep love for nature, hiking, and free diving also inspired those around ​him. He left his mark in the snow with crow footprints and “Caw!” became his ​signature, embodying his free spirit. The Caw Foundation honors Bruce’s ​memory, preserving his ideals and celebrating his unique approach to life and ​leadership.

© 2024 The Caw Foundation