by Jim Orsillo After graduating from Elmira Southside High School in 1958, I began a ten-year saga with college and work. I started at University of Buffalo and lasted two years (attempted to become a nuclear physicist without attending classes… almost made it but was asked politely to leave). Dad was not very happy with me… so I set out to New York City (lived in "The Village" on 14th Street) and entered RCA Institutes. Graduated in two years with a degree (Bachelor of Engineering with Communication and Computer options). In 1962, my Dad died and I began to work for Bell Telephone Laboratories as a communications engineer. Attended college part-time. In 1963, I learned to parachute from an airplane. Wow! What a rush! Owned an Austin Healey sport car.
In 1966, I got married and moved to Pittsfield, MA to work with General Electric as a computer system engineer. Continued with part time studies in guidance systems at GE Institutes. Started the Masters program at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. In 1967, returned to school full time (Rensselaer) to finish up my Masters. Graduated with a Masters of Science Degree in Computer Science. Since the Computer Science was relatively easy I also audited most of the Electrical Engineering courses in Control Systems. In 1968, I moved to Minneapolis, MN and started to work for Control Data. Worked as a Computer System Specialist on super-computer systems. I also had the opportunity to work for Seymour Cray at CDC. My Daughter… My Sunshine, June Lynne was born in 1969. Continued to grow technically as well as intellectually with computer systems. Continued in CDC Institute schools part-time. Entered a Ph.D. program part-time at University of Minnesota. In 1971, I received an offer from Computer Sciences Corporation that I could not refuse. So I packed up the wife and June Lynne and went to CSC as a Consulting Computer Scientist. In 1972, another turning point occurred in my professional life, ITT was considering me for a position in Europe. I had to take psychological, intelligence, and aptitude exams. Guess what? I discovered that I was an Entrepreneur! ITT recommended that I consider developing this aspect of my personality. So I did. Wow! I never looked back! In 1972, I formed my first company: Computer Consulting Associates (CCA) in Elmira NY. First consulting assignment was at Lear Siegler (now Smith Industries) in Grand Rapids, MI. In 1974, I formed ORTHSTAR Enterprises, Inc. (ORTHSTAR, Inc.) in Elmira NY. ORTHSTAR provides technical service contract engineers to my clients. In 1974, I learned to fly an airplane and purchased a Cessna 150 (N566G). I sold this aircraft to Bill Cook a couple years later. Ask Bill, who acommpanied me on the delivery to his local airport, to tell the story about the forced landing in a field behind the Holiday Inn, somewhere in Indiana, and our final landing on an ice covered runway in Chicago. In 1975, I earned another Engineering Degree in Nuclear Engineering from CREI in Washington, DC In 1976, I took ORTHSTAR to Europe to automate the Nederland Spoorwagen (Dutch railroad). On a side trip, I visited my Dad’s hometown Reno, Italy (a street was named in his honor in 1972). In 1978, I designed and built my home on Upper Forest Hills (complete with small computer room), in West Elmira. 1983 thru 1985 were trying times for my businesses and marriage. I got into major trouble with ORTHSTAR (which had merged with CCA) due to my lack of attention to financial details and a weak management team. We recovered though and I formed O-K Properties in 1984, and designed and built the first ORTHSTAR office building and formed Thundering Hooves Stables in 1985. In 1986, I was divorced and discovered that I was a single parent. At 16, June Lynne, a typical teenage girl, discovered she had a typical hard-nosed Dad. We both survived the ordeal. I am very proud of her - she has two business degrees and we are very close.
It is now 1998, and ORTHSTAR is thriving and is looking to double its business and employment in the next two years (my prediction). And upon reflection we've done some really wonderful things: we designed and built over 100 real-time systems for 40 major organizations in aerospace, aircraft, railroad, transit authorities, factory automation, industrial process control, and power generating utilities. ShadowStand Properties, Inc. is designing ORTHSTAR’s Systems Building and Thundering Hooves Arena for "Horse in Sport" to be located in the Chemung County Airport Corporate Park. Over the years we've invented technological breakthroughs such as: Thread Algebra- A simulation logic-time mathematics. Integrated Digital Acquisition System (IDAS)- A pattern recognition computer system Extended Sentient Non-linear Ensemble (ESNE)- A new wave control system- the first step in "the mind of the robot". Solid-State Nuclear Applications Package (SNAP)- A nuclear flux-heat transfer design analysis program.
On a more personal note: I collect weapons, art and antiques. I study military history, write poetry (published aspects of "A Touch of Soul"), politically active- "Right Wing Republican". I am a Deist- with "a scientific viewpoint- all life force has a soul". Public Speaker on subjects in technology. I am an amateur fencer, rated polo player, artist-illustrator and an experienced horseman. I belong to several professional organizations: Senior Member: IEEE, Society of Industrial and Applied Mathematics, American Nuclear Society, American Helicopter Society, US Polo Association, US Fencing Association Life Member: AQHA, AAAA, US Air Club Member: International Flying Engineers, Napoleonic Society, Ayn Rand Society, NRA, AOPA, Navy League, AUSA and AFA Elected to: "Who’s Who In Science and Technology", "Who’s Who In America". Board Memberships: Trustee for Keuka College, Advisory Counsel for Corning Community College, Director National Soaring Museum. Special Loves: June Lynne, flying, 10+ horses, 8 cats, and 4 dogs, gourmet cooking, red wine, dancing, close friends, classical music, computers and companies, mystical experiences, world travel, late nights, exploring history, mathematics of Einstein and Feynman, and philosophy of Ayn Rand and Friedrich Nietzsche. "I could have done it in a more complicated way", said the Red Queen immensely proud." Lewis Carroll "Wow! If it gets any better than this… I will not be able to stop hyperventilating. . ." Jim Orsillo Note: You can send E-Mail to Jim at orsillo@orthstar.com © 1998-99 SHS Class of
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In 1963, I returned to school full time,
Indiana Institute of Technology; graduated on the
"Presidents List" in 1964, with Bachelor of
Science Degrees in Electrical Engineering and
Mathematics. In school I was "dirt poor", and
my only mode of transportation was a motorcycle (even in
winter). Returned to Elmira and worked at Westinghouse,
as a video design engineer. Continued with school part
time at Elmira College and Cornell University. 
In 1989, I learned to fly a helicopter
and purchased an Enstrun Turbocharge Helicopter F28-C2
(N5688N). In 1991, I designed, built and moved into a
beautiful house (complete with large computer room) and
farm complex called Thundering Hooves Stables in
Horseheads, NY. In 1995, O-K Properties became
ShadowStand Properties, Inc. and Thundering Hooves
Stables was Incorporated.
I also earned a number of certificates;
such as Bionics, Expert Based Systems, Helicopter Design,
Helicopter Maintenance, Aircraft Simulation Design,
Inertial Guidance, Logic Design, Management Consulting,
and Special Investigation from Cornell University,
Georgia Tech, Penn State, Univ. of Binghamton, Enstrum
Helicopter, GE Institutes, and others.