Long-time cable technology expert Wendell Bailey lost his battle with cancer Tuesday, Sept. 26, passing away at his home in Fort Washington, Md. He was 60 years old.
A private ceremony and burial is set this week, and on Oct. 21 the family is planning a memorial service open to Bailey’s friends and colleagues. Details of that ceremony were not available as of press time.
Bailey was a well-known presence in cable technology circles. A graduate of the University of Maryland, he most recently was chief technologist for advanced broadband technology at NBC. He was author of more than 100 technical papers on cable technology and policy.
His resume also included a 17-year stint as vice president for science and technology at the National Cable and Telecommunications Association, and before that, he served in technology posts at the former MCI Telecommunications Corp. and at AT&T.
Recently he also has served on the advisory board for Cedar Point Communications, and he has held positions on the Society of Cable Telecommunications Engineers board of directors, as well as the Federal Communications Commission’s Advanced Television System Committee.
Bailey also was an active amateur radio operator and pilot.
“Wendell always struck me as a kind of boulevardier, a worldly, sophisticated gentleman about town, with his own very personal style,” James Mooney of JLM Partners, a former NCTA president, said. “He knew everyone, had been everywhere and had an extraordinary range of interests. He was fun to be with; I’m going to miss him very much.”
The NCTA’s Bill Check, senior vice president of science and technology, said in a statement: “Wendell was a great unifying force in our industry, for many years deftly managing the NCTA Engineering Committee at a time when broadband was emerging as a reality for cable, and bringing together often-disparate voices to forge consensus on issues related to science and technology.
“We lovingly remember his passion for cable’s technology, his dynamic vision and warm camaraderie, and his boundless energy in the service of our industry,” he said.
Bailey is survived his wife Denise, daughter Jennifer, granddaughter Kayla and a brother, Wayne.
Memorial donations may be made to the American Cancer Society by calling 1-800-ACS-2345.
