Robert Martel's Homepage

A few more details about me (as if you care!) I graduated from Cleveland State University with a BS in computer and information science in December of 1987. I was hired full-time by the Levin College of Urban Affairs as programming support to the Home Weatherization Assistance Program (HWAP) evaluation study (where I received my very own AT&T 7300 UNIXpc!). Several years of SAS, FORTRAN, and dBASE programming (and irritating window vendors - glass ones, not Microsoft) evolved into UNIX system administration - funny how so many UNIX system administrators come into the job that way. Later PC network administration was added to the mix (AT&T STARgroup, then PC-NFS, then Samba, then Netatalk, then no more netatalk...) I picked up my Masters of Computer and Information Science also from Cleveland State in June of 1993.

Other odds and ends

I've been interested in automotive restoration from the time I picked up my first car: a 1967 Chevrolet Chevelle Malibu Sport Coupe. (My buddy's 1968 Buick Skylark is in the background - before it lost a fight with a deer in upstate New York. Since one photo is not enough, here is another of my first love. I'm sad to say that the Malibu is gone now - well, the 283 cid small block, bumpers, trim, glass, dashboard - most everything except the body and chassis are my father's garage. Yes, he is thrilled.

My current "project" is a 1968 Ford Mustang which has been too many years in the making, but it looks better now than it did when I started. I've also had a 1965 Plymouth Fury III as well as a 1979 Pontiac Bonneville, Here getting a new motor. and two Chevettes, "Scooter - 1977" and the "Crispy Critter - 1981".

Sometimes they go the other way - 1991, the day I brought my new truck home from the dealer Now 200,000 miles later it needs a bit 'o work to bring it back.

I've also moved to restoring things a little bigger than your average car. I'm a member of the Vessel Operations Committee (and chief light bulb changer) for the Steamship William G. Mather Museum, a restored circa 1925 Great Lakes ore boat. The picture at the top of the page is me at the top of the Mather's mast changing bulbs in the whistle light. The photo also provides proof that I can smile - despite what my co-workers think.

On 25 June 1996 I was lucky enough to have a "special trip" out on Lake Erie

Photography, Working with Boy Scout troop 332 in North Olmsted, camping, hiking, local (Northern Ohio and Great Lakes) history pretty much round out my interests.

I enjoy music by Electric Light Orchestra, The Moody Blues, and the Alan Parsons Project. (All rather old music as my bride is fond of pointing out.) and music by James Taylor.

Last modified: Thursday, 01-Apr-2004 13:24:49 EST