Image by Ed Brennen Susan de Castro, daughter of electrical engineering alum Edson de Castro '60, '78 (H), cuts the ribbon on the Ball Hall Room 214 lecture hall that has been named in his honor.
An alumnus who helped transform the computing industry is now the namesake of a UMass Lowell lecture hall where today’s engineering students learn and innovate.
The university has dedicated Ball Hall Room 214 to the late Edson de Castro ’60, ’78 (H), the Lowell Tech graduate and technology pioneer who helped launch the minicomputer revolution.
At a recent ceremony, the Francis College of Engineering celebrated a bequest from de Castro’s family, which funded both the naming of the recently renovated lecture hall and the creation of the Edson de Castro ’60, ’78 (H) Professorship within the college.
After earning a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering in 1960, de Castro went on to co-found Data General Corporation in 1968 and introduced the Nova computer, one of the first 16-bit minicomputers. The company grew into a Fortune 500 firm and became a major force in the evolution of computing. He died in 2024, eight days shy of his 86th birthday.
“We are grateful to Edson’s family for helping extend his legacy to future generations,” said Chancellor Julie Chen. “At just 29 years old, he started a company that drove innovation in computing and business. The foundation for that success began here. Thanks to the generosity of his family, we can now provide a space like this for students to learn and be inspired.”
Image by Ed Brennen Edson de Castro's sister, Sally, takes a photo of the plaque in his honor outside the Ball Hall Room 214 lecture hall.
“It’s inspiring and sentimental,” said his daughter, Susan de Castro. “To think about my dad being in that room, and now it’s been renovated to inspire new students — it’s special.”
His sister, Sally, recalled his early determination and the opportunity that shaped his path.
“He chose Lowell Tech over MIT because he could get a full scholarship,” she said. “That opportunity made a difference.”
For his grandson, Andrew Rosenfeld, the ribbon-cutting represented both a tribute and a continuation of that legacy.
“I knew him for a good part of my life, and I’ve heard so many stories about him and his accomplishments,” Rosenfeld said. “This feels like a culmination of that — and hopefully it inspires future generations too.”
Image by Ed Brennen Chancellor Julie Chen speaks about the legacy of Edson de Castro '60, '78 (H) in the recently renovated lecture hall named in his honor.