Jay Silverman:  

After High School, I went to State University College in Farmingdale and majored in Automotive Technology. I completed the two year program and transferred to State University College at Oswego, majoring in Industrial Arts Education (Teacher Training K-12). This was the highlight of my life because after the first tough semester I grew to enjoy college life. I was involved in Dorm Council as a floor Representative and served 2 years as Residence Hall Treasurer. I was secretary of a Graphic Arts club, I installed a Photographic Darkroom in my residence hall for people into photography. I was approached by Residence Life and Housing to create a campus-wide program to show prospective students what residence life was like (I received the stipend of $75 for doing it which was like a million dollars to a college student!) Although my grades were average, I did make the dean’s list one semester and I was also honored by the college president in a Leadership recognition luncheon, in the executive dining hall. During my first few years, I took computer courses available to the general student population, once I exhausted those courses, I asked the Computer Science Director to allow me to take the Assembly Course, because I had passed the other courses, he agreed to allow me to register for it, as it was only available to computer science majors. It was where I got my fundamental knowledge of the workings of computer processors. My hobby in electronics was great because at the time GE has an electronic Surplus Store in Mattydale (about an hour south of Oswego and I would take weekly trips to avail myself of the inexpensive electronic hardware, some of which I still have the parts from salvaged equipment. These were the best times, but alas, all things come to an end. In 1979 I left Oswego after 5 years (I did not want to leave) there were NO JOBS for teachers anywhere, so I got my first job as Electronic technician. I bought my first TRS-80 (like in the pic) and started to design boards to connect to it. I had a rack of Plug In cards and I learned the Assembler to program and utilize the external cards... After about 2 years as a tech, there was an opening in the Engineering Department and I knew Z80 Assembler (which they were designing test fixtures with) so I got the job...It lasted about a year then I went into another group servicing a Gateway Controller all over the country. It was used in aviation, with various protocols. They the company was bought out by Siemens and everything went to Germany. I floundered around with a few different jobs, after being out of work. Job Placement sent me to a small company that manufactured customized electrical parts of a mechanical nature and I was supposed to be taught by the Chief Engineer, but he did not like me, so I get involved with the owners son, in selecting a computer system. I convinced him to buy a UNIX Based system with 3 terminals and I wrote (in Basic) a complete inventory control program. It used ISAM's to get around the 64K limitation of the 8 bit machines and was unique because every menu had a HELP screen that would tell you how to use the menu and the program. It took about 6 months to complete and since it was well commented, my job came to an end there (not a bad thing). I was able to talk Job Placement into putting me in the JTPA program, of which the traditional client (laid off from Grumman) was unable to grasp. I promised if they put me in the program, I woul...Expand for more