Rubens Kuhl, a prominent figure in Brazil's technology community, died on November 3 from cancer complications. A network security specialist, he made significant contributions to internet development in the country. He leaves behind his wife, children, and mother.
Rubens Kuhl showed early interest in electronics. At nine years old, he built a crystal radio based on a project from a magazine borrowed from his uncle, to pick up airplane communications. His mother, Vera de Moraes, 80, noticed his aptitude beyond typical childhood play, though he also enjoyed playing soccer with friends.
In his teens in São Paulo, Kuhl befriended Pedro Quintanilha, 56, during informatics classes in the early 1980s. Together, at 15, they developed a system for a wood export company and invented a fictional company to publish articles in Micro Sistemas magazine. Before commercial internet in Brazil, they used BBS platforms like Canal VIP to exchange messages with enthusiasts.
Kuhl chose electrical engineering at USP over ITA. Professionally, he taught, consulted, and led network security at UOL. For the last 15 years, he worked at NIC.br, the civil entity managing internet development and domain registrations in Brazil. There, he helped create domains like .uol and .rio, according to friend Frederico Neves, NIC.br's director of services and technology, who called him "extremely eclectic," able to discuss any topic.
Active in debates, he coordinated network engineering community meetings. Married for 20 years to Marcia Nagaoka Kuhl, 48, a dentist who joked: "IT is another world for me." They shared a taste for The Smiths and The Cure. With son Klaus, 11, he played soccer and chess, and they nicknamed each other "little ants" for their sweet tooth. The family also includes daughter Lena, 3.
