Donald Lester Bitzer

The first baby of the New Year, Donald was born just after midnight in East St Louis Illinois on January 1, 1934. He was raised in Collinsville, Illinois and graduated from Collinsville High School where he met Maryann Drost. They married on July 2, 1955.

Donald received his BS (’55), MS (’56) and PhD (’60) in Electrical Engineering at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, where he went on to teach for the next 29 years. During his tenure at the University of Illinois, Donald served as the director of CERL (Computer Based Education Research Laboratory), where he would eventually create the PLATO computer system - the first shared-network used for education which combined graphics and touch-sensitive screens. The seminal influence of the PLATO system can be felt even today, and the technology underlying its Plasma Panel display was later used in the commercial development of flat-screen Plasma televisions, for which Donald received a Technological Achievement Emmy in 2002.

In 1990, Donald moved to North Carolina with Maryann to become a Distinguished University Research Professor at NC State University’s Department of Computer Science. There, he taught courses in Discreet Mathematics and directed research in lip-synchronization and convolutional coding, the latter of which lead to innovations in efficiency of transgenic protein production.

Donald is a member of the National Inventors Hall of Fame (’13), the Consumer Electronics Hall of Fame (’06), the University of Illinois College of Engineering Hall of Fame (’10), a Lincoln Laureate of Illinois (’82), a National Associate of the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine (’02), a Fellow in the Computer History Museum (’22), and a recipient of the Vladamir Zworkin Award from the National Academy of Engineering (’73), the Holladay Medal for Excellence at NC State University (’19), and the University of Illinois Alumni Association Award (’23). Perhaps most notably (in his opinion), Donald received an award from the International Brotherhood of Magicians in 1989 for contributions of creativity to the art of Magic – contributions he incorporated into his lectures and for the amusement of his grandchildren.

Donald would have preferred that his significant list of accolades be omitted, as his true impact lies with the spark of creativity he fostered in each person who wandered into his lab (including local High School students). Donald championed inclusivity for anyone interested learning and exploring new ideas in the laboratory, and unwaveringly encouraged interdisciplinary collaboration. He was advisor to numerous PhD and MS students, many of whom are named with him on the numerous patents he obtained.

His wife, Maryann, preceded him in death in 2022.

He is survived by a son David (Christine) Bitzer, MD of Springfield, IL. His three grandchildren Grant (Cate) Bitzer in Chapel Hill, NC, Bryan (Ellen) Bitzer of Santa Monica, CA, and Hannah Bitzer of Fort Collins, CO will fondly remember their time with him fishing, tubing and water skiing at the lake house he built with the help of family and friends in Vandalia, IL, as well as treasure hunts, endless supplies of pop flys, card games (oh hell), Cardinal Baseball games, listening to his stories, and hearing him recount his and Maryann’s travel adventures. Donald is also survived by two great grandchildren, a sister Carol (Jack) Lampe of Collinsville Illinois, and several Nieces and Nephews.

To honor his memory, you may wish to contribute to the NC State Engineering Foundation, Campus Box 7901, Raleigh, NC 27695. with "Bitzer Undergraduate Research Endowment" or Donald L. Bitzer Creative Award Fund" in the memo field. Also, memorial contributions can be directed to the University of Illinois Foundation for the Donald L. and Maryann D. Bitzer Electrical Computer Engineering Visionary Scholarship Fund, at uif.uillinois.edu/giving

A visitation of family and friends will be held on January 26, 2025 from 3-7:00 p.m. at Brown Wynne Funeral Home in Cary, NC. An inurnment burial will take place in Maryville, IL at a later date. Memorial tributes and messages of sympathy can be left by clicking the “Add a Memory” box below. Brown Wynne of Cary is honored to serve the Bitzer family.