Obituary

---

Don C. Hoefler-Coined the Term 'Silicon Valley'

April 1986 - San Francisco Chronicle, Obituaries

Don C. Hoefler, a journalist credited with coining the term "Silicon Valley" for the burgeoning semiconductor industry in the Santa Clara Valley, died Tuesday [April 15] after a lengthy illness. He was 63. Mr. Hoefler published a weekly newsletter, "Microelectronics News," for 14 years. The publication was called a gossip sheet by some but others said it had the first precise news of personnel moves and other trends and innovations in the industry. He coined the term "Silicon Valley" in a 1971 article for Electronic News, another weekly trade paper, and later said, "How was I to know that the term would be adopted industrywide and become generic worldwide?" Before starting his own newsletter, Mr. Hoefler was a reporter for Fairchild Publications, McGraw-Hill, RCA Corp. and Fairchild Semiconductor. He suffered a stroke last month and was hospitalized at Fort Miley Veterans Hospital in San Francisco, where he died. The hospital said he donated his body to the University of California at San Francisco Medical School. There will be no services. Contributions can be sent to First Southern Baptist Church, 800 Grand Road, South San Francisco. Mr. Hoefler is survived by his wife, Rachel, of South San Francisco.

Microelectronics News:

© Copyright Don C. Hoefler

Years:

1975

1976

1977

1978

1979

1980

1981

1982

1983

1984

1985

1986

---