Harold (‘Hal’) Lorin

Harold (‘Hal’) Lorin died peacefully at his home in Chatham, MA, on the 20th of February 2024. Born and raised in New York City, “The Center of the Known Universe,” his life was a tapestry of intellectual pursuit, love of family and friends, and an abiding appreciation for the aesthetic and humorous of the world.

With Liz, his beloved wife and partner of 63 years, Hal built a home in Chatham; a sanctuary for family, friends, and those in need of some extra care. He loved gardening, swimming in the pond, and sailing the family Beetle Cat, The Beagle. He was a passionate, lifelong baseball fan, and with his friends, perennially rooted for the Chatham Anglers from Chatham’s fire station hill.

Hal and Liz’s passports testify to their shared curiosity about the world, but that curiosity was not confined to distant lands. In New York, he and Liz actively supported the contemporary and classical arts. Hal was a passionate lover of music, and could often be found at chamber music concerts, listening to jazz, or singing melodies from Guys and Dolls, Kiss Me Kate, and The Mikado.

He was a writer of both fiction and nonfiction. He authored numerous computing books and articles, novels, and poetry. His poem “Sisyphus” is highly regarded. His novel “The Tin Merchant - The Story of Jesus as it Happened to His Family” explored spiritual themes in the life of the young Jesus.

Introduced to computers at Strategic Air Command Headquarters during his service, he became a pioneer in the field of computer science. One of the earliest distributed systems visionaries, he foresaw much of the future of computing. His career spanned two decades as senior internal consultant at the IBM Systems Research Institute (SRI). Following IBM, he continued to influence future generations as faculty and lecturer at Hofstra University, the Stern School at NYU, MIT, and Cambridge University. He went on to establish the Manticore Consultancy.

Hal will be fondly remembered for his quick wit, generous humor, and the warmth that radiated from his gentle heart. He leaves behind a legacy of love with his wife, Liz, their children Lucy and Matthew, his cherished grandchildren Mason and Kate, relatives, his honorary grandchildren and families, and a constellation of friends whose lives he enriched. Hal’s life is a testament to the enduring power of the intellect, creativity, humor, and the strength of human connection. He will be missed.

In lieu of flowers, please make contributions to one of the following: The Cape Cod Baseball League, The Chatham Township Fire Department, or The Chatham Police Association.

A celebration of life is planned for the summer.