Every computer science (Informatics) Student, who learn a little bit about Transactions should know Jim Gray. Specially his book Transaction Processing. Concepts and Techniques that his wrote with Andreas Reuter should meas something for every Computer Science student.
As Reprotet by Werner Vogels Jim Gray is missing at sea, an there is base to be worried about it. 
Jim, i wish you good luck, and hope to hear and read something new from you sun!
Here is good article about last Jim Journey: http://www.wired.com/techbiz/people/magazine/15-08/ff_jimgray?currentPage=all
You can help to search for Jimm Gray by looking at Satelite pictures at Amazon http://www.mturk.com/mturk/preview?groupId=J0XZ58STDWJZ5QY4F9M0