Dave Walden, a key figure in the engineering history of the ARPAnet, loved learning new things. One of his learning practices was to write down everything he learned, to help solidify his knowledge, and to pass it on to others. He learned to type in high school to make it easier to get his thoughts on paper. He learned speed reading during his college years so he could rapidly expose himself to more material without reducing comprehension. He strove for excellence in every new area that attracted his interest. The result was five successful careers crammed into one lifetime: computer programmer, technology executive, quality expert, electronic publisher, and computing historian. Along with these careers, he developed expertise in bridge, chess, juggling, sailboat racing, and Celtic music. The biography that follows reflects the author's many decades of interaction with Walden, as a professional colleague and personal friend.