Underwood was initially hired in 1991 by the UCOP Facilities Management and Loan Programs to coordinate their computer services. He joined ANR in 1993 and became ANR's computer support.
As the Information Superhighway paved the way to the World Wide Web in the 1990s, Underwood put ANR on the web. He developed the Division's first website and searchable staff directory.
Virtually every ANR employee in Oakland and Davis worked with Underwood at some time. He helped new employees acquire computers, phones and printers. Every time employees moved offices in Oakland and around Davis, he oversaw getting everyone's computer set up. For many years, he was ANR's computer support department at UCOP.
“Dave was a master of serenity and patience,” said Dave Krause, who worked in Communication Services and Information Technology with Underwood. “He would always take the time, always try to help, no matter who you were on the food chain and what type of technical problem you had. He'd stay until your problem was resolved or, at the very least, you felt like you had help.”
In 2014, Underwood was appointed manager of Information Technology Infrastructure, responsible for the Division's information processing, operating hardware and software, network communication and assisting ANR employees with computer services. He retired June 30, 2015.
Underwood is survived by his wife Rebel of Sycamore, Ohio, and children Erica Underwood of Concord, Jody Pauley of Vacaville, and Kimberly Pauley of Antioch; sisters, Linda (Joe) George of Napa and Carla (Dan) Schafer of Benicia; and five grandchildren.
Underwood's family is planning a celebration of his life on Aug. 7 at the Martinez Marina at 1 p.m.
Memorial contributions can be made to the American Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) in care of Walton-Moore Funeral Home, P.O. Box 350, Sycamore, Ohio 44882.
- Author: Pamela Kan-Rice
In response to my April 15 email about the Heartbleed bug, I have received some feedback. Although I noted that the threat is not as bad as first thought, I advised changing your password/passphrase as a precaution. Some of you have asked, “How do I change my Kerberos password?”
To change your Kerberos password, go to http://accounts.ucdavis.edu and click on “Change your passphrase.”
You should also consider changing passwords for other websites you log in to, after they pass the vulnerability test. The following are tools to check a website for Heartbleed vulnerability:
Thank you for your feedback
David Underwood
IT specialist