I’m sorry to tell you that Chuck Grindstaff, former CEO of Siemens PLM and long-time PLMer, has died. To the left is Siemens’ stock photo of Chuck but it’s so formal and posed — and Chuck never was. He was usually pacing and gesturing, passionately expounding on something — technology, society, education, his family … Chuck was blindingly smart, kind, no fool when it came to trends that might or might not stick and, even though it’s overused, a real visionary in determining what tech would be useful and how it might be applied to normal, real-world scenarios.

Chuck formally retired from Siemens PLM in 2016 but I think still held advisory positions within the bigger Digital Industries organization.

I’m sure they will miss him, as will I. My condolences to his family and his colleagues.

As far as I know, nothing has been set up to take donations in his honor. If I find out about something, I’ll update. But if you’re so inclined, go help a kid be a techie. I think he’d like that.