System iNetwork

I am very sorry to learn about this sad news. My thoughts are with Al's family. As a fairly new member to COMMON, I do not know Al well but I have definitely seen him moving around COMMON conferences. Through the COMMON Education Foundation scholarship, Al's memory will be eternal.....

We have lost one of the true pioneers of the AS/400 world. He will be missed -- all the best to Al's family in this very hard time.

My sympathies to Al's family -- he truly has been an icon in the 38/400 world. I have had a long career exclusively in IBM midrange shops and Al's has always been a name instantly recognised by myself and my colleagues. He certainly generated alot of thought and discussion in his time. COMMON will seem a bit strange without his presence.

Thank you for posting this! Al was truly a friend and "i" family leader!

Anne

It is with regret to hear of the passing of Al. He has been a great asset to the COMMON organization, as well as the IBM Mid Range community. He will be greatly missed.

My thought and prayers to the family of this colleague and friend of many years. He will be missed by all who have had the pleasure of knowing him.

The thing I remember about AL was when he first started speaking/presenting at COMMON he was nervous as hell (like all of us were) but many of us gave him positive feedback and encouragement and he quickly became a COMMON ICON.

As the years past, AL got great (and fast!) at lecturing on System Values and other things and you could always count on seeing recent photos of his children at the first session he gave each year. It was only fitting that the first words out of his mouth to me each and every time we met or had a telephone conversation was "How's the family?" His curiosity for my children's path through their lives (two of whom he met at COMMON in the early 1990s) is unmatched by anyone else.

Just a few short month's ago, I interviewed AL during an episode of iMonthly and had to go hunting for a photo of him. Seems the reputation of his ego was a bit exaggerated, as only 1 photo could be found. AL simply said what was on his mind, and I find that not only humble, but necessary in any line of work.

AL and I shared a common pre-System/38 career dream of becoming an Astronaut. (Yes, the NASA kind). But both our lives moved in another direction. Yet I find it ironic that after all these years and this sudden and shocking moment, that I received, just hours after AL's departing, an email from NASA astronaut.selection@mail.nasa.gov asking me to complete a form on my (at least) 10 year old Astronaut application.

Thanks for the help AL!

I remember Al and am sorry to hear of his passing. Al was the best. I have spent some moments with him and was always impressed. He was a great wit. And he was a great listener. And he was a great advocate of the AS/400 platform. He will be missed. --Mike Aho

Even if I am from Europe/Austria, I knew Al Barsa -- working with him together in the IBM CL Focus Group back in 2000. He was a very loyal man and a great supporter to the platform we all still know as AS/400.
He truly will be missed!

My regards to his family and friends!

This is quite a shock since I just attended Al's "Save-while-active" session at COMMON on Wednesday. In hindsight I recall in that session that Al spent several minutes talking about his children's acamedic accomplishments where he showed us a picture of his son and daughter and spoke of how proud he was of them. He mentioned that his family was his life and I can only imagine now the grief they must be feeling at his sudden passing. My thoughts and prayers go out to Al's family, friends and colleagues. We will all miss you!

Godspeed, Al.

I'll never forget that night in Toronto when you said that we could be friends if we just drank a little Scotch together. We did--and you were right.

Thank you for everything you've done for the platform and for me personally.

Sincerely,
rp

Very sad news. My thoughts and prayers are with Al's family. What a great guy!! And we had fun at many Connection conferences over the years. It will never be the same without him.

Al Barsa was well-known within the 38/400 community. In spite of the fact that I've been out of that segment of the industry for a while, I caught this notice of his passing. My thoughts and prayers are with his family. RIP...

Frank V.

I knew Al first as a competitor when he was a Lakeview partner and I was with Vision, and later as a compatriot when I did some work for Lakeview....in both cases he was a real professional as we both traversed the High Availability lecture circuit.

Later at COMMON, Al asked me to take some pics of him at a speech he gave to a huge audience so he could send them to his family. When my flash went off he yelled "That one's for mom!" and everone roared.

There was only one Al Barsa in the world.....he will never be duplicated. Godspeed Al.....we all miss you, good friend. Dennis Fletcher

I am so sorry to hear of Al's untimely death. My sympathies are with his family and friends. He will be missed.

Lead on, Al...

To all of Al's Family and Friends and Associates: Which are many. Thanks for all that you have done and accomplished as a COMMON member, as an AS/400 professional and as an advocate for all of the IT world. My most sincere and heart felt condolences to his family and to those who loved him.

It was a great joy and pleasure to know you and be associated with you.

Sincerely,
Paul

As a long time IBM instructor, I remember Al and his contributions to our platform well. He will truly be missed by all of us in the "AS/400" world. My condolences to his family.

Oh no! What a sad news! One of the greatest champions of the "38/400/i" ecosystem has left. I share the pain of his family and friends.

I first met Al some 15 years ago when he was famous for his math skills (400>390). Never was there a more passionate, funny and kinder man than Al. To say that he kept the AS/400 and iSeries management teams on their toes was a huge understatement. COMMON was not COMMON without Al. He was a friend and a constructive business critic. He was most of all, a wonderful father. All of us are going to miss him......

You will certainly be missed Al.

My thoughts and prayers go out to Al's family and close friends.

My sympathies to Al's family, I was in the last session with Al in Nashville

I knew Al for almost 20 years working together on and off, our paths crossing and parting. He was a one of the true pioneers of the AS/400 world, he was a brilliant man, but most of all he was a good man. My prayers go out to his family.

I am so saddened to learn of the sudden loss of Al Barsa. How fitting it would be at a Common event!

Although I am no longer in the i/world, I have known Al since we started the DVCUG group back in the early 80s. He was not only one of our first Annual Seminar speakers with his "Systems Values" topics but came back to visit us frequently. His sessions were always one of the favorites - both at DVCUG and COMMON. His intellect and knowledge, his sense of humor, his high energy, and his love of family was always very evident.

My heartfelt condolences first to all his family, then to all his friends, co-workers, and community.

God Rest Your Soul, Al !

God speed, Al. I'm pleased and proud to have known you and been your friend. You were always a bright spot at conference. You will be missed.

Al and I met in a Mimix Partner class at Lakeview Technology. I had the pleasure to work - drink - eat and laugh with this great person. I refered to him as "The Don of the AS400" my thoughts and prayers go out to Al's family and we will truly miss him. God Bless.

Al,

You will be missed my friend. I remember running into several times from 1998 COMMON in New Orleans to 2005 COMMON in Orlando. The sound off sessions will never be the same. May you rest in peace.

Jim O.

I'm so lucky to be able to meet Al at the COMMON in Anaheim CA last year, introduced myself, shook his hand and a quick chat. Rest in peace Al.