Walt Custer, who for years was synonymous with as a candid and humorous industry market researcher, passed away on August 30 at the age of 81.

Custer spent the majority of his career as vice president of marketing and sales for Morton Electronic Materials, a supplier of PCB laminate, which was eventually acquired by Rohm and Haas in 1999. But it was as the entertaining and informative spokesperson for the IPC TMRC Council, that he made his biggest mark. Custer’s presentations were a collage of industry and broader economic data interspersed with gentle teasing of various high-profile industry persons.

Upon hearing of his passing, I heard from several people who spoke of his kindness and collegiality. To their private recollections, I’ll add mine:

Many, many years ago, in a very different role at a previous company, I was putting together some thoughts in an email and accidentally hit SEND, managing to cc quite a few people that I shouldn’t have. As it turned out, Walt was one of them.

He was quick to reach out and tell me how he had done the same thing once and while it may cost me some sleep and maybe a pound or two, we all survive even life’s most embarrassing moments. 

I always appreciated his generosity. His family and friends are in my thought