David R. Boggs ’72

David, an electrical engineer and computer scientist who helped create the Ethernet computer communications protocol and technology, died Feb. 19, 2022, at Stanford Hospital in Palo Alto, Calif. He was 71. His death was due to heart failure.

David grew up in Washington, D.C., the son of a career Army officer and a university administrator. He graduated from Woodrow Wilson High School in 1968. He entered Princeton as a skilled electronics enthusiast and majored in electrical engineering. As technical director of WPRB, he expanded and rewired the studio. What was memorable was not just his technical skills and work ethic, but his willingness to share his knowledge with others.

David earned a master’s degree in electrical engineering from Stanford in 1973 and interned at the Xerox Palo Alto Research Center (PARC) while pursuing a Ph.D. at Stanford in electrical engineering, awarded in 1982.

At PARC, he teamed with Bob Metcalfe, who was exploring sending information to and from the lab’s new computer through a cable. Two years later the collaboration designed the first version of Ethernet. David later worked at Digital Equipment Corporation’s Western Research Laboratory and, with Ron Crane, co-founded LAN Media Corp. 

David’s other interests included target shooting, metal working, and wine. He was a confirmed oenophile.

The class sends its condolences to David’s wife, Marcia Bush; and his brother, Walter.