Including transformative events that shaped my life [from 1900 to 2025]
Generated by Canva AI on 7 August 2025 and tweaked by me
I came along for the second half of the 20th century, of course, but many things happened before my arrival which are very pertinent for this memoir! I could have chosen to go back to the 1640s [maybe in the next draft, or even earlier].
Orville and Wilbur Wright achieve the first powered, sustained, and controlled airplane flight, launching the age of aviation.
On December 17, 1903, at Kitty Hawk, North Carolina, the Wright brothers made four flights with their Wright Flyer, with the longest lasting 59 seconds and covering 852 feet. This breakthrough opened the skies to human exploration and commerce.
• Transformed global transportation and commerce
• Enabled rapid international travel and communication
• Changed military strategy and warfare
• Created entirely new industries and job markets
World War I devastates Europe, ending empires and redrawing the global map while introducing modern warfare technologies.
The "war to end all wars" involved over 70 million military personnel and resulted in unprecedented casualties. It marked the end of the old European order and set the stage for the 20th century's major conflicts.
• Collapsed four major empires (German, Austro-Hungarian, Russian, Ottoman)
• Introduced chemical weapons and mechanized warfare
• Led to women entering the workforce en masse
• Created conditions that led to World War II
Alexander Fleming discovers penicillin, revolutionizing medicine and saving millions of lives through antibiotic treatment.
Fleming's accidental discovery of penicillin's antibacterial properties launched the antibiotic age, transforming medicine from a largely palliative practice to one capable of curing previously fatal infections.
• Reduced death rates from bacterial infections by 80%
• Made complex surgeries safer and more common
• Extended average human lifespan significantly
• Launched the modern pharmaceutical industry
The deadliest conflict in human history reshapes the global order, leading to the emergence of superpowers and the United Nations.
WWII involved virtually every nation and resulted in 70-85 million deaths. It ended with the atomic bombings of Japan and established the United States and Soviet Union as superpowers, setting the stage for the Cold War.
• Established the United Nations and modern international law
• Accelerated decolonization movements worldwide
• Led to rapid technological advancement
• Created the bipolar Cold War world order
From modest beginnings in Portland Maine (with a brief stay in Boston Massachusetts), Don spent most of his youth in Wimington Massachusetts [next slide].
I don't remember all that much about this period of my life. I have some anecdotes to share in person about my time in Portland (but I will only share them with family and close friends: in person). Stay tuned for a few memories about Boston and a few significant memories of parents and relatives about those early years.
• None that I am aware of!
• You guessed it: I was born a Sagittarius
• Prominent starting dates for residences:
We lived in a suburb of Boston on the North Shore. I was one of the nerdy kids, played in the band instead of sports. Spent a lot of time reading science fiction, drawing cartoons (from Mad and other comic books).
Encountered religion, had girl friends and learned a bit about romance. Got my first car and my first official job. Had my first official automobile accident (and lost my license). Took the train to Boston and worked in Filene's Basement at the Returns Desk.
• Read and delivered 3 newspapers daily!
• Read books, played clarinet, drew cartoons.
Led by figures like Martin Luther King Jr., the movement achieves landmark legislation ending legal segregation in the United States.
From Rosa Parks' bus boycott to the March on Washington, the Civil Rights Movement used nonviolent resistance to challenge systemic racism and achieve legal equality for African Americans.
• Ended legal segregation with Civil Rights Act of 1964
• Secured voting rights with Voting Rights Act of 1965
• Inspired global human rights movements
• Transformed American society and politics
With hopes of playing the clarinet in the Navy band, I enlisted in 1967, went to Great Lakes, Illinois and failed the audition. Instead I wound up in Naples, Italy at Capodichino Airport serving the Sixth Fleet (and learning Italian in the process). I had many adventures in Naples, learned about the culture (and especially the wine and the food). I taught a young woman how to drive (and helped her learn English while I learned Italian). Visited the Abbruzzi Mountains and Trieste with a charming young Italian woman. Rowed in the Bay of Naples and even started climbing Mount Vesuvius until my feet got too hot.
Eventually got orders to go to Vietnam and served on a minesweeper. I would tell you more about that, but "loose lips sink ships".
• Fell in love with Italy and Italians!
• Met folks in Europe, California, & the far East.
• Prominent starting dates for residences:
Apollo 11 successfully lands humans on the Moon, with Neil Armstrong becoming the first person to walk on its surface.
"That's one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind." Armstrong's words marked humanity's greatest exploration achievement, demonstrating that seemingly impossible goals could be reached through determination and technology.
• Advanced computer technology and miniaturization
• Developed satellite communication systems
• Inspired STEM education and careers
• United humanity in shared achievement
This period is under construction.
Designed my own curriculum with my advisor. Started classes in downtown Boston and continued at the Dorchester campus after a trip to Los Angeles.
• Studied Russian and German and Programming!
• Studied History, Philosophy, Pschology and Economics.
This period is under construction.
Need to find my resume to refresh my recollections.
• None that I am aware of!
• Let me know if you know of any and thanks.
Tim Berners-Lee creates the World Wide Web, revolutionizing information sharing and communication globally.
Berners-Lee's invention of HTML, HTTP, and URLs created the foundation for the modern internet, transforming how humans access information, communicate, and conduct business.
• Connected billions of people worldwide
• Created new industries and business models
• Democratized access to information and education
• Enabled remote work and global collaboration
This was the most stable of all my jobs.
Lots to say, but I need to spend the time to organize my thoughts.
• Web applications to collect taxes!
• Lots of professional courses to help me do my job.
A global pandemic reshapes society, accelerating digital transformation and highlighting global interconnectedness.
The COVID-19 pandemic affected every aspect of human life, from health and economics to education and social interaction, while demonstrating both human vulnerability and resilience.
• Accelerated remote work and digital adoption
• Advanced mRNA vaccine technology
• Highlighted global health system vulnerabilities
• Changed social behaviors and priorities
I thought this was going to be so much fun.
Life has a way of surprising you.
• Mid-Maine Progressive Forum!
• Waterville Chess Club.
ChatGPT and advanced AI systems become mainstream, marking the beginning of the artificial intelligence revolution.
The release of ChatGPT and other large language models brought AI capabilities to millions of users, sparking discussions about the future of work, creativity, and human-AI collaboration.
• Democratized access to AI capabilities
• Accelerated automation across industries
• Raised questions about AI safety and ethics
• Sparked new forms of human-AI collaboration
Living the Dream [with cancer]. Making the best of the situation. Enjoying chess, YouTube, old movies, food(in restaurants and at home). Spending more time with my wife, my friends and my family. Giving away most of my books, music CDs and DVDs.
Selling my old comic books. Donating special books to the Portland Public Library in honor of my uncle, Vernon L. Chandler (who spent many happy days at that library).
• Fighting cancer and fascism!
• Writing my memoir (with some help).