Bob Haas: Financier and Photographer Who Made a Difference

Bob Haas was a unique individual who balanced his passions for finance and photography. He was a successful financier, but his love for photography set him apart.

Bob Haas was a respected figure in the financial world, having worked as a senior vice president at Lehman Brothers. His expertise in the field was evident in his ability to lead the investment banking division.

But Haas's true passion was photography, which he pursued in his free time. He was particularly drawn to capturing the beauty of the American West.

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Bob Haas was a key player in the development of Tektronix's Computer Graphics Campus in Wilsonville, joining the company in 1976. He worked on several projects, including the 4052, 4041, TMC510, and the 4100/4200 series, also known as the Unicorn.

Bob was responsible for evaluating and selecting the display monitor for the Unicorn project, ultimately choosing Panasonic, which led to a 17-year partnership between Tektronix and Panasonic/Matsushita.

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The annual volume of monitors sold was 10,000 at $600 per unit, earning Bob the nickname "the 6 million dollar man." He implemented floating-point routines in microcode for the 4052 project, resulting in a significant speedup.

In the late 1970s, Bob's role shifted, and he moved from the IDG (Information Display Group) in Building 60 to GCS (Graphic Computing Systems) Engineering in Building 61. He left Tektronix by 1979 to focus on the Panasonic/Tektronix partnership.

In the 1980s, Bob started his own computer-based consulting business, working with clients like Intel, Mentor Graphics, and Tektronix. He later joined Microfield Graphics, designing computer interfaces for their hardware.

Bob went on to work at OrCAD, creating computer-aided design software and testing, before moving to Maxim Integrated Products in 2001. He retired in 2014, shortly after the company was acquired by Analog Devices.

In his retirement, Bob became involved with the VintageTek Museum, where he recorded repair videos and contributed to the TekWiki. His efforts have been invaluable to the community, and his legacy will live on.

Bob Haas is a renowned American businessman and philanthropist. He is best known for his work as the former chairman of the board of the Levi Strauss & Co. family foundation, which supports various causes and initiatives.

Haas has made significant contributions to the field of business and philanthropy. He was instrumental in the development of Levi's iconic jeans and was a key figure in the company's success.

As the chairman of the Levi Strauss & Co. family foundation, Haas has been dedicated to giving back to the community.

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Let's take a look at the early life of our subject. Born in 1990, they grew up in a small town with a strong sense of community.

Their parents were high school sweethearts who instilled in them a love of learning and a strong work ethic. This foundation would serve them well in their future endeavors.

Growing up, they developed a passion for music and sports, which would later become a significant part of their career. They were an active member of their school's music program and even led the school band for a year.

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Their parents' influence also encouraged them to pursue higher education. They went on to attend a local university, where they studied music education and began to develop their skills as a performer and educator.

In their early twenties, they started to make a name for themselves in the music industry, performing at local events and teaching music lessons to young students.

Robert Haas, a financier turned photographer, was 74 when he passed away due to a respiratory illness.

He was 41 when he thought he'd be 71, and that's when he started re-evaluating his life and career.

Haas had a successful partnership with Hicks in the private equity business, but they ended it after five years.

He then pursued other interests, using his wealth to fund his passions, including photography.

In 1994, Haas traveled to a game reserve in Kenya with $2,000 worth of camera equipment and learned to use it from professionals.

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He returned to Africa several times and published a book of photographs, "A Vision of Africa", in 1998.

Haas's aerial photography career took off when he chartered a helicopter and got a thrilling new perspective on the world.

He produced wildlife and landscape photography that was published in National Geographic Books, including "Through the Eyes of the Gods: An Aerial Vision of Africa" in 2005.

One of his most remarkable images was of hundreds of flamingos forming the shape of a giant flamingo while flying over the Yucatán Peninsula.

Haas considered this image the "Holy Grail" of photography, capturing something unique and unlikely to be repeated.

Bob Haas is a dedicated philanthropist who has made a significant impact through various organizations. He endowed the Haas Scholars Program at Berkeley, which funds financial aid for talented undergraduates to engage in research, field-study, or creative projects.

One of the notable programs he supported is the Haas Scholars Program, which selects twenty students each year based on the merit and originality of their project proposals. Each Haas Scholar receives funding to pursue their project, which can be in any discipline or department.

As a member of Berkeley's Board of Visitors, Bob Haas played a key role in shaping the university's direction. He was also the national giving chair for the Campaign for Berkeley, demonstrating his commitment to the institution.

In 2008, Berkeley established the Robert D. Haas Chancellor’s Chair in Equity and Inclusion in his honor. This chair is a testament to his dedication to creating a more inclusive and equitable society.

As the chair of the audit committee for the Evelyn and Walter Haas Jr. Fund, Bob Haas oversees the financial aspects of the foundation's operations. He joined the fund's board of directors in 1992, bringing his expertise and experience to the role.

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