David Hinkle, Founder Of Sonalysts Inc., passes away

[Onkel Neal]

When I learned about Capt. Alford's passing, I was also made aware of Dave Hinkle's passing. Mr. Hinkle served as the sonar operator aboard the USS Cavalla, with Zeb as his XO. Mr. Hinkle went on to found Sonlaysts, Inc. who game us the best modern subsims to date (Jane's 688(I), Sub Command, Fleet Command, Dangerous Waters). He was a true pioneer and visionary.

Obituary at US Naval Academy




Jul. 29_David Hinkle, who with his wife, Muriel, turned a tiny business operating from a guest cottage behind their home into the successful Sonalysts Inc., died Monday.
The Stonington resident helped to transform the small defense firm founded in 1973 into a diversified company with annual revenues of more than $60 million, a work force of some 400, and 18 offices scattered across the country. Its interests today range from defense operations analysis and tactical development to music and film services.




It counts among its clients Hollywood megadirector Steven Spielberg, and it is currently providing the production facilities for the taping of the "Deal or No Deal" syndicated game show.

Friends and associates described Hinkle, who was diagnosed in 2008 with lung cancer, as a soft-spoken man, always a consummate gentleman, and a hands-on chief executive who possessed strong strategic and visionary skills.

Associates said Hinkle was a strong mariner based on his years with the U.S. Navy and had acquired a deep expertise with sonar _ one friend called him "Mr. Sonar."

Those talents, along with his wife's strong support and business skills, allowed the couple to start Sonalysts _ the name is a combination of "sonar" and "analysts"- in the cottage behind their Waterford home. A few years later, the Hinkles bought a former ice cream warehouse to house their growing firm, which was located on the same property in Waterford that now houses the company's campus on Parkway North.
"If you knew Dave at all, he spoke slowly and softly, but deeply ... and you always paid attention to what he said," said Ray Woolrich, president of the Nautilus chapter of the Naval Submarine League and a principal analyst with Waterford-based Sonalysts.

"Dave was an extraordinarily approachable guy, just a nice guy," said Woolrich. He said Hinkle and his wife were respected by all those working at Sonalysts and were often sought out for their advice. "You could talk to them about virtually anything," said Woolrich.

Hinkle was born in Texas in 1930 and was raised as a farm boy on a West Texas ranch. He had a rich U.S. Navy career, including serving as the commander of the submarine USS Pargo. Hinkle enlisted in the Navy in 1948 and entered the U.S. Naval Academy by fleet appointment. He and the then-Muriel Nelson were married shortly after his graduation in June 1954. They were together for 55 years, and friends said that Hinkle was a proud family man, always enjoying the company of his three daughters, and that he remained active _ even as his health waned.

Arne Johnson, the retired chief operating officer of Sonalysts and a friend of some 30 years, said that after Hinkle formally retired from the firm in 1998 he remained a busy board member as chairman emeritus.
"He did not really retire," he said.
Johnson, whose friendship extends back to their submarine training school days in Groton, said Hinkle was the "guiding light" behind Sonalysts. "He was definitely a hands-on type of guy," said Johnson. "He had a thirst for doing things well," he said, "and he always encouraged people to do the things that they wanted to do."