Ray Tomlinson: Man Behind Modern Email, @ Sign Dies

Tomlinson was humble and modest. And, surprisingly, not a frequent checker of email.

Ray Tomlinson. (Photo: Twitter)

Ray Tomlinson, the inventor of modern email, has died. Raytheon Co., his employer, confirmed his death on Sunday. Gmail which owes a lot to Tomlinson for obvious reasons, expressed their condolences through Twitter.

Email existed in a limited capacity before Tomlinson in which electronic messages could be shared amid multiple people within a limited framework. But until his invention in 1971 of the first network person-to-person email there was no way to send something to a specific person at a specific address.

Tomlinson chose the “@” (“at”) symbol to connect the username with the destination address and it has now become a cultural icon.

While he was a holder of numerous awards and other accolades, co-workers say he was humble and modest. And, surprisingly, not a frequent checker of email.

(With AP inputs)