One thing I took note of was that he was a chemistry nerd in school.
It seems like the subject of nerd culture changed from waaay back when he was a kid being chemistry (you could make bombs), to electronics such as radio (you could do ham radio), to computers and then programming (video games).
Nowadays you won't find anyone who can tell you how chemistry works, and a few old guys will tell you how to solder your own electronics, but everyone will be able to tell you how to code a website.
Was also perhaps career focused on latest tech?? For example my granddad did structural engineering, my father studied chemical engineering, I did electronic engineering
It seems like the subject of nerd culture changed from waaay back when he was a kid being chemistry (you could make bombs), to electronics such as radio (you could do ham radio), to computers and then programming (video games).
Nowadays you won't find anyone who can tell you how chemistry works, and a few old guys will tell you how to solder your own electronics, but everyone will be able to tell you how to code a website.