Eminent Microsoft Researcher Jim Gray Missing

Jim Gray is amazing.

Seldom do I hear ideas that strike me as inspired or radically new. Jim Gray is one of the few whose ideas get me excited about new possibilities with data. In a profession filled with bright minds, Jim is the brightest. His keynote at PASS 2005 was without a doubt my favorite database presentation and PASS keynote.

Apparently the area where he became lost is known for being a treacherous location filled with hidden shoals and unpredictable currents and waves. I’m hoping and praying that Jim survives, the Coasties find him soon, and we can invite him once again to give a keynote at a future PASS summit.

I had the fortune of meeting Jim Gray at PASS 2005, at an event to which we both arrived early. He complimented my talk (<g>) and asked me if I wanted to see a demo of LINQ. Of course I accepted, and got a personal preview of the new technology.

I was awed by his knowledge, and hold him in very high regard.

I hope that he decided to take a few days to himself and that everything is alright.

The Coast Guard is suspending the search Thursday night and private aircraft will continue the search.

http://www.nbc11.com/news/10899014/detail.html