Generally considered one of the fathers of artificial intelligence--computer programs capable of complex problem-solving--Herbert A. Simon made distinguished contributions in a number of fields, including computer science, the psychology of learning, business administration, political science, economics, and philosophy. Recipient of the 1978 Nobel Prize in economics for his work on human decision-making, he also, in 1986, became the first person to receive the National Medal of Science for work in the behavioral sciences. In addition to his varied professional interests, he also painted, played the piano, and enjoyed mountain-climbing, traveling, and learning foreign languages. He died February 9, 2001 from complications following surgery to remove a cancerous tumor from his abdomen.

Simon was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, on June 15, 1916. His father, Arthur Simon, was a German-born electrical engineer and his mother, Edna (Merkel) Simon, was an accomplished pianist. After being skipped ahead three semesters in the Milwaukee public school system, Simon...