“The single greatest asset a designer can have is self-knowledge. Knowing when your thinking feels right and when you’re trying to fool yourself.” He added, “Knowing your strengths and weaknesses, prowesses and prejudices. Learning when to ask questions and when to believe your answers.”

Besides the passion for electronics and hands-on learning, both Williams and Pease had another quality: humility, along with a recognition that they owed those who came before them. Both acknowledged the many contributions of op-amp pioneer George Philbrick to their personal and career development, and Pease paid special homage in his book to the late Bruce Seddon, an engineer who helped him “appreciate the niceties of worst-case design.” Seddon always lent his ear and helping hand. Wrote Pease, “And if I never got around to saying thank you—well, 30 years is a long time to be an ungrateful, lazy bum, but now’s the time to say, ‘Thank you, Bruce.’”

Pease took the example of Seddon to heart and practiced the same principles, day in and day out, as did Williams in his own way. It’s with that example in mind that I acknowledge the futility of looking for other heroes to fill the space they leave behind or of the need to say goodbye.

The recent passing of Bob Pease and Jim Williams has led to a great deal of discussion and writing about these two great analog designers and the lessons various folks who interacted with them. Here is a great piece by someone who never met them but read their books, on what made them great designers.