Today, America mourns the death of Rube Goldberg, whose groundbreaking cartoons and sophisticated machines redefined how people interpreted the mundane tasks of everyday life. Rube Goldberg, born in San Francisco in 1883, became a celebrated cartoonist, sculptor, author, and engineer whose work earned him the Pulitzer Prize for his political cartoons and a place in the National Cartoonist Society’s Hall of Fame. His most famous contribution to the world was his slyly humorous cartoons about overly complex machines. The Rube Goldberg Machine became an American icon and has spawned competitions and a variety of merchandise. His books and sculptures range from the witty and whimsical to the profound and thought provoking. Goldberg’s lifelong passion for engineering and mechanics also led him to invent such things as the rotary engine, the automatic soda fountain spigot, and the radial aircraft engine. Rube Goldberg died on December 7th, 1970 at the age of 87. His genius and delightfully wacky machines continue to bring joy to creative people the world over. He will be dearly missed and fondly remembered for his unparalleled wit and imagination. May he rest in peace.