Ray Noorda, the almost-founder of Novell, is dead at 82, following a long battle with Alzheimer's.

Noorda joined Novell, Provo, Utah in 1983 when it had just 17 employees. He presided over enormous growth at the company, helped by Netware, its enormously successful network operating system. By the time he left in 1995, the company had more 12,000 staff.

In Noorda's latter years at Novell, rumours about his failing memory swirled through the tech publishing scene. But he was able to make a new mark as the founder of Canopy Ventures, an early-stage venture capital firm that has invested in over 100 companies.

Among his achievements, Noorda is credited by Canopy as the inventor of the modern channel structure, which is still probably the most important sales distribution outlet for the tech industry.

His obit is here ®.