Dear Woz,
Earlier this week, during a team meeting, my colleagues were reminiscing about the Apple II and playing Oregon Trail in school. It brought back fond memories, and I remembered that I had recently inherited an Apple II in a trade with one of my Masonic Brothers. Curious if it would still boot, I headed into my lab and powered it on. Sure enough, it sprang to life—a testament, in my opinion, to the quality of its engineering. I smiled when I noticed it was a Woz Limited Edition, which once again made me think of you.
Like many others, the Apple II was the first computer I ever encountered. I learned to type on it and discovered the spark of endless opportunity and wonder while programming on it. You and Steve Jobs had the vision to recognize the value computers could bring into our homes when others did not.
I once read online that you said, “In the end, I hope there’s a little note somewhere that says I designed a good computer.” I’m not sure if those were truly your words, but they wouldn’t have made their way to the internet without your influence. Similarly, I don’t know if you’ll ever come across this note—but it’s destined for the web, and I sincerely hope you do. I wouldn’t be where I am today if it was not for you.
While enjoying a trip down memory lane on my newly acquired Apple II, I decided to recreate the first program I ever entered into a computer:
10 PRINT “HELLO BRAD.”
20 GOTO 10
The program is a bit basic (see what I did there), but it reminds me how far we’ve come over the past 40 years. From various articles I’ve read about you, I know you place great value on both education and humor. I only wish I’d had the chance to call your dial-a-joke line.
As I was reliving these childhood moments, I remembered reading that you were a Freemason. A quick search confirmed it: according to the Grand Lodge of British Columbia, you were initiated in 1980 at Charity Lodge No. 362 in Campbell, CA.[i] The Washington National Memorial site also mentions you as a Mason in the Grand Lodge of California.[ii]
In an interview on one of my favorite tech sites, Slashdot.org, you explained that you joined to spend more time with your then-wife, Alice Robertson, who was in the OES. You shared, “I did become a Freemason and know what it’s about, but it doesn’t really fit my tech/geek personality. Still, I can be polite to others from other walks of life. After our divorce was filed, I never attended again, but I did contribute enough for a lifetime membership.”[iii]
While I know many Brothers may be saddened to learn that you are no longer active in the fraternity, I am reminded of the words of one of my closest Masonic friends: “The true works of Masonry are done outside of the doors of the lodge.”
You have dedicated your life to exploration, education, and helping those in need. While I’ve come to know of your contributions during my 30 years in the industry, anyone can simply scroll through the Honors and Awards section of your Wikipedia page to get a glimpse of your incredible impact. … Impacts that I think are in alignment with the values of our fraternity.[iv] Impacts that I try to emulate when mentoring people new to technology, and new to our gentle craft. We all have something to learn from each other.
You seem to have been often overshadowed by Steve Jobs—someone that I understand wasn’t always easy to get along with. Despite this, you stood by his side and chose to see the best in him. I find that truly honorable.
In the end, I just want to thank you for kickstarting my career and igniting my passion for learning. You opened a new world to me—one that enabled me to follow a path where I could communicate with people all around the globe, even when I couldn’t afford to travel and meet them in person. You also helped me discover the fraternity that I hold so dear.
And I wanted to tell you that…
You designed a good computer.
Fraternally,
Brad
[i] Steve Wozniak. Grand Lodge of British Columbia.
[ii] Grand Lodge of California – GWMNMA, The George Washington Masonic National Memorial. Feb 01, 2018.
[iii] “Ask Steve Wozniak Anything”. Slashdot. October 1, 2012. Archived from the original on October 25, 2018. Retrieved October 25, 2018.