In Memoriam:
Ryal Poppa '57 GP'08
CMC Alumnus and Former Trustee

Ryal R. Poppa '57, a former member of the Claremont McKenna College Board of Trustees, died on Monday, October 20, 2008. He was 75 years old.
Dedicated to providing students access to the highest quality technology, Poppa supported the establishment of the Poppa Computer Lab and the newly-dedicated Ryal Residential Lab, and the implementation of a wireless network. He also funded the Ryal R. Poppa Scholarship, which has assisted numerous students since its inception in 1980.
In 1969, the Wall Street Journal recognized Poppa as the youngest CEO of a NYSE company. Business Week named him one of the "50 Corporate Elite." Appointed by President Ronald Reagan to the President's Commission for the National Medal of Science, he also received the Senatorial Medal of Service for managing the finance segments of three senatorial campaigns in Colorado.
Poppa's career in information technology began at Kaiser Steel in Fontana, where he worked while attending CMC. He held senior positions at BMC Industries, Pertec Computer Corporation, and IBM, where he invented the Iceberg disk drive, the foundation for IBM's RAMAC 3 virtual array disk-drive device. Poppa joined StorageTek in 1985 and led a turn-around that caused the company to become a major force in the data storage segment. He retired from corporate management in 1996.
An active alumnus, Poppa served on the Claremont Men's College Advisory Board and as Los Angeles Chairman of Project 80. He joined the Board of Trustees in 1978 and served until 1990. In 2006, Poppa gathered Class Notes for the Class of 1957, and in 2007, he received the George C. S. Benson Distinguished Achievement Award, the Claremont McKenna College Alumni Association's highest honor. He also was an avid skier, motorcycle enthusiast, and tennis player.
"Ryal was a visionary man who understood the importance of embracing technology and making it readily available to our students," says President Pamela B. Gann. "He will be missed as a mentor, alumnus, and friend."
Poppa is survived by his wife, Ruth Ann, and two daughters, Sheryl and Kimberly. His grandson, Alexander Griffing, is a member of the CMC Class of 2008.
Contributions may be made in Poppa's memory to TrinityCare Hospice in Torrance, 2601 Airport Drive, Suite 230, Torrance, Calif., 90505.