Lynn Conway, a trailblazer in both the computer revolution and transgender rights movement, passed away last Sunday at the age of 86. Her husband, Charles Rogers, confirmed she died in a hospital from complications of two recent heart attacks.
Conway’s career was marked by groundbreaking achievements and significant challenges. In 1968, after confiding to her supervisors at IBM that she was transgender, she was fired. Despite this setback, she continued to make remarkable contributions to the tech industry, becoming a pivotal figure in the development of microchip design.
Beyond her technical accomplishments, Conway was a passionate advocate for transgender rights, sharing her story and advocating for acceptance and equality.
Her passing marks the loss of a visionary who made lasting impacts in both technology and social justice.