Born in Jerusalem on January 13, 1945 Achi, like so many other children of his time, was a child of war and hope. His parents were older than most, with his father age 57 and his mother age 41 at the time of his birth. He was conceived when news from the European fronts brought hopeful expectations that the Holocaust and World War II might soon be over. However, by the time of his birth the news began to emerge that his mother’s entire large extended family was killed by the Nazis. His arrival brought his parents much needed hope and joy.
Achi began his life as a sickly, introspective child who showed signs of strong intellectual abilities. By the time he was five, his parents enrolled him in school hoping it would help gratify his insatiable curiosity and desire to learn. However, school did little to satisfy his intellectual inquisitiveness and thirst for knowledge. He read everything he could get his hands on, including every book in his father’s large library. He was adventurous, often putting himself at risk by stretching the limits of what was expected of a boy his age. But his pursuit of knowledge and first-hand experiences were powerful motives that propelled him.
Upon graduating from high school, Achi studied at the Israeli Air Force Technical School, and then served in the Air Force for three years. Following his mother’s wishes he enrolled in the Hebrew University School of Law and completed his studies successfully. It was during these years, however, that he discovered the then fledgling world of computers which would become his calling.
A computer course offered by the Israeli Government opened a window for Achi into a world that would at last, present him with the intellectual and analytical challenges he craved. From that point on he was set on taking on the world, and within a few years he had become a powerful force in the area of mainframe computers. He lived in South Africa and in England and traveled the world constantly. He brought his exceptional analytical mind and problem solving abilities to every corner of the earth. He was welcomed by governments, companies large and small, banks and giants of industry, and was paid handsomely for his services. He offered solutions to problems no one else seemed to be able to solve. He became a sought-after lecturer and advisor in areas that went beyond the world of computers, and a frequent visitor with world leaders.
Throughout all these years he never lost his curiosity and passion for knowledge. He continued teaching himself, delving in-depth into many areas of sciences and the arts. He became a recognized expert in opera and cinema and a true wine aficionado. In 2001 the academic world recognized his exceptional abilities when he was granted the title of Professor of Neuroscience by Swinburne University in Melbourne. In the last years of his life, having gained the world’s recognition, respect and adoration, he volunteered time and efforts to help make the world a better place for those who needed it most.
Achi cherished his reputation and the recognition he received for his professional contributions, but most of all he cherished his family, his wife Yael Tagger whom he married in 1989 and his two daughters Ashley and Katia. At the end of his trips to all corners of the world, he would return home to his family, either to their home in London or Jerusalem.
When he became terminally ill at age 57, he fought a heroic battle but was unable to conquer the disease that attacked him so suddenly. He died December 16th 2002, at his London home surrounded by his family, and was buried in Jerusalem near his parents.