Ed Hobson, a well-known fixture in the television equipment industry, lost his battle with cancer Jan. 28 in Nevada City, Calif. He was 59 years old.
Hobson was most recently vice president of National TeleConsultants, a systems integrator and facilities designer in Glendale, Calif.
Hobson was born in Trenton, N.J. and graduated from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy N.Y., in 1971 with a B.S. in Electrical Engineering. He worked at WRPI radio during college and began his professional career as a broadcast and production engineer at WTEN-TV, Albany N.Y., and WRGB, Schenectady N.Y.
He joined the Grass Valley Group in 1980 and Hobson held several positions during his 13-year career at the company, including field service engineer, sales manager, and marketing manager. Hobson also worked in marketing management for Graham-Patten Systems in Grass Valley Calif., and at Sony Electronics Broadcast and Professional Group in San Jose Calif. Hobson co-founded Omneon Video Networks in Mountain View Calif., before joining National TeleConsultants.
He has held the positions of president, governor, and fellow of the Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers. He served as a member of the International Broadcasting Conference board of directors and in 2006 was named a fellow in the BKSTS.
He is survived by his wife, Judy Seabridge, his parents, and other family members.
Those wishing to send memorial contributions may do so to the Hospice of the Foothills or the American Cancer Society.
An East Coast memorial will be held for Ed at 2 p.m. Feb. 16, at Grace St. Paul Episcopal Church, 3715 East State Street Extension, Mercerville N.J.
Editor’s Note: Ed Hobson was a kind, generous and gracious man who supported me in my career from the first day that I started working for the Grass Valley Union newspaper. He was always helpful and available to explain the esoterica that characterizes the broadcast equipment business. He always kept track of my progress. I regret to say that I was remiss in doing the same for him.--D.
