Alistair Holden; UW Professor Pioneered Artificial Intelligence

Alistair David Craig Holden, a University of Washington professor who pioneered artificial intelligence and drew minorities into electrical-engineering and computer sciences, predicted in 1990 that "within 10 years we'll have robotic household helpers widely available."

He foresaw a voice-activated kitchen in which a robot made coffee and meals, washed dishes and let out the cat, he told The Seattle Times. He saw this as one facet of a much-increased use of artificial-intelligence systems in America.

He also suggested that metal automobile engines would be replaced by ceramic engines that burn gasoline at metal-melting temperatures, leave little residue and get 100 miles per gallon.

Such ideas helped make him a fine researcher and teacher, colleagues say.

"He was one of the people who brought the study of computer science to the University of Washington and helped created the program," said Ed Lazowska, computer science and engineering department chair. "Internationally, he was one of the founders of the field of artificial intelligence. He constantly pumped energy into the young people in the field."

Mr. Holden chaired the first International Joint Conference on Artificial Intelligence in 1969 in Washington, D.C., said his wife of 39 years, Maretta Holden of Mercer Island.

Mr. Holden died of cancer Wednesday (Feb. 3). He was 70.

Born and educated in Lochgilphead, Argyll, Scotland, he was fascinated by the development of computers after World War II.

He earned his bachelor's degree in electrical engineering at the University of Glasgow in Scotland, and his master's in the field at Yale. He moved to Seattle in 1958 and taught at the UW while earning his Ph.D.

"We worked together on quite a number of projects," said Thomas Furness, director of the UW Human Interface Technology Lab.

"He was very popular with the students, with that little Scottish roll to his `Rs.' He brought in a number of students to my program, including many Fulbright scholars. One former student is department chair of electrical engineering at the University of Mexico."

Mr. Holden began the Minority Introduction to Engineering (MITE) program at the UW, said his daughter, Marte Menz of Mercer Island.

"It was a summer program for high-achieving minority high-school students that were interested in engineering. He did that for 20 years until just last summer."

"It was mainly for women, African Americans, Hispanic Americans and Native Americans because Asian people have quite a tradition in engineering," said his wife.

In addition to his work he enjoyed gardening and playing soccer. "He'd watched soccer in Scotland but began playing in Seattle," Menz said. "He was very athletic, so he could zip quickly. He coached for many years the girls' team I was on in the Mercer Island Parks Department."

Family also mattered. He loved playing host at Sunday dinners at his Mercer Island home.

Also surviving are a son, Larry Holden of Bellevue; brothers Robert Holden of Scotland and William Holden of England; a sister, Annette Holden of Scotland; and a grandchild.

Remembrances may go to Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, LY-120, P.O. Box 19024, Seattle, WA 98109.