In Memoriam: Shreeram Abhyankar

11-05-2012

Marshall Distinguished Professor of Mathematics Shreeram Abhyankar, a Professor of Computer Science by courtesy since 1988, died on Friday, November 2, 2012. He was 82 years old.

An obituary in the Journal & Courier notes that Abhyankar "passed away while doing his beloved math sitting at his desk at home, in the company of his beloved wife Yvonne."

Born in Ujjain, India in 1930, Abhyankar earned his Ph.D. from Harvard University in 1955. Before joining the faculty of Purdue University as a full professor in 1963, he was an associate professor of mathematics at Cornell University and Johns Hopkins University. He was named a Marshall Distinguished Professor in 1967, and he was also a Professor of Purdue Industrial Engineering by courtesy. His numerous honors include being recently named a Fellow of the American Mathematical Society.

Abhyankar's research areas of interest included algorithmic algebraic geometry, commutative algebra, local algebra, theory of functions of several complex variables, quantum electrodynamics, circuit theory, invariant theory, combinatorics, computational geometry, computer aided design, and robotics. His obituary observes that he "leaves behind a legacy of students who became part of his global family of mathematicians residing worldwide and whom he visited throughout his life."

Two of his former students pay tribute to him on the Purdue Mathematics website.

The Department of Computer Science extends its deepest condolences to Professor Abhyankar's family, friends, colleagues, and students.

The funeral service was held at 10:00 a.m. Thursday, November 8, 2012 at the Soller-Baker West Lafayette Chapel, 1184 Sagamore Parkway West, West Lafayette.