Shaw Exum Pender Jr.

Shaw E.” Buddy” Pender departed for his next adventure on April 1, 2019. “Buddy” was born April 18, 1939 at Charlotte’s St. Peter’s Hospital, son of the late Clara and Shaw Pender and younger brother of the late Barbara Lee Fulmer of Charlotte, NC.

Shaw married Mahoko Wakimoto from Tokyo, Japan, April, 28, 1995. He is survived by daughters Marina Tiffany Pender of Newport Beach, CA., Alyssa Michelle Ghirardelli of Sacramento, CA. and stepdaughter Tomomi Okada of Tokyo, Japan; grandchildren Robert and Jack Ghirardelli, Sydney Pender and step grandson Kouki Okada.

Shaw earned The Boy Scouts of America Eagle Scout Rank Award Troop 7 of W. Avenue Presbyterian Church, Charlotte NC in 1953.

His academic achievements were graduating from Harding High School class of 1957, UNC Charlotte College awarded Mechanical Engineering degree in 1960, Florida Institute of Technology awarded a Bachelor’s Degree in Mathematics- Melbourne, Florida 1967, graduated from Pepperdine University, Malibu, California, Class of ’94 awarded Master of Science Degree in Technology Management.

Shaw’s career was immersed in the IT world and worked in the field including

1960 Mathematician, Douglas Aircraft Co., Charlotte, NC 1962-1980 Staff Engineer, TRW Space and Defense Group, Redondo Beach, CA. He designed and developed flight control software for the Apollo Lunar Landing Missions. 1980 Executive Managing Director, Asia Pacific Operations, TRW Automotive Group, Tokyo, Japan. Managed Sales and Overseas business development Office in Tokyo, Japan. Represented TRW in sales and marketing throughout Asia and Pacific region.1992-95 Manager, Jet Propulsion Laboratory (California Institute of Technology), Pasadena, CA. 1995-2003 Managing Director, Asia Pacific Group, Sun Microsystems Corp., Palo Alto, CA.

Shaw was always ahead of the times and able to foresee the future and inspired people he encountered. He was also interested in Japanese culture with keen eyes.

Shaw loved sports cars and classic autos, at the same time was interested in movies/movie-making, photography, playing tennis, skiing, surfing, fishing, and history, but too many to list.

After retiring in 2003, Mr. Pender returned to N.C. and settled in Brevard, N.C. where he

and Mahoko enjoyed lakeside living and a life of fly fishing, boating, hiking and classic auto and bicycle restorations.

Shaw was quite an interesting man with a gentle heart. He enjoyed his life and loved his family dearly.