In August 1998, I enjoyed a short visit with Anton Hanegraaf in Elst, the Netherlands. While Anton has produced many fine dissections of several types, I think that his 3-dimensional dissections in chapter 20 are most extraordinary. His biography appears near the end of that chapter, on page 243. Even though both Anton and his wife Anne had been contending with health problems, they insisted that I stay with them. I shall always treasure the memory of their warm and generous hospitality. Below is a picture taken in their small but exquisite garden.
Anton and I had a wonderful time discussing dissections and mathematical recreations in general. Here is a picture of him wearing his new "Plane & Fancy" T-shirt and standing in front of a few of his puzzles. Too bad that I did not get a photo of him in front of the many remarkable hinged 3-dimensional models that he had constructed over the years. But they were packed away in various boxes rather than out on display. He has promised to send me some, so maybe I can take some pictures in the future and post them on this page.
Postscript: As I wrote in the afterword to my second book, Anton died on September 28, 2001, after a lengthy illness. His courage and determination under increasingly adverse circumstances are a continuing inspiration to those of us who had the privilege to know him.
Copyright 1998-2004, Greg N. Frederickson.
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Dissections: Plane & Fancy
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Last updated August 25, 2004.