As a child, Richard Hodges ’72 often had a book or musical instrument in his hands. His parents were teachers and encouraged him to read and play music from a young age. That early immersion had a profound impact on his life: not only did he skip four grades in school, he also developed a lifelong passion for philosophy, music, and especially mathematics.
As a graduate student at UC Berkeley, his fascination was further cultivated by professor and pioneering mathematician Hans Joachim Bremermann, an early force in artificial intelligence.
“Hans was a great mentor to me,” recalls Richard, who, when not competing on Cal’s judo team or ensconced in one of the university’s libraries, was also teaching courses on artificial intelligence in the Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Sciences. “He encouraged me to pursue what I wanted in this new field.”
He founded several startups, including ACT Networks, which became a publicly traded company, and has six patents in his name for technologies related to machine learning and sound processing. But something deeper than stock options drives his desire to create. Richard, who, in addition to playing bassoon in three Bay Area orchestras, is a published writer, poet, and world champion in judo.
