Olga Beaver

Olga Rozinak Beaver

1942-2012 Olga Rozinak Beaver, of 100 Southworth St., Williamstown, died the morning of December 7, 2012, at her home in the presence of loved ones.

She was born on November 12, 1942 in Prague, Czechoslovakia, a daughter of Achill Josef Rozinak and Zora Marie (Liska) Rozinak. She attended schools in Prague and in 1949, a year after the Communist government took over, her family escaped to West Germany. After living in displaced persons camps for two years and 9 months in London, she came with her family to the United States in 1952.

Olga (or Ollie as she preferred) attended Smith College and Southern Connecticut State College. She graduated from the University of Missouri-Kansas City with a BS degree in mathematics in 1968 and then received her MS degree in mathematics in 1970. She then went on to get her PhD in Mathematics from the University of Massachusetts in 1979.

Ollie was a math professor at Williams College from July 1, 1979 until her illness in 2012. She was a member of the American Mathematical Society, the Association for Women in Mathematics (AWM) and in 1992 the second winner of the AWM's Louise Hay Award for contributions to mathematics education.

At Williams, Ollie was very active on various committees, including chairing the Steering Committee, and for many years the Winter Study Committee. She also chaired the Mathematics Department for 6 years, and either hired or was on the hiring committee for all current mathematics faculty. She directed the Summer Science Program for ten years and taught in it every summer for more than twenty-five years.

Her passions included teaching mathematics, cooking, gardening, reading, and interior design. She enjoyed traveling to Prague twice every year since 1992, and was delighted to have her Czech citizenship reinstated.

Ollie is survived by her husband, Donald deBlasiis Beaver, whom she married on September 15, 1962. She leaves two sons, Donald R. Beaver of Pittsburgh, Pa., and James deB. Beaver of Philadelphia, Pa. Five grandchildren, Donald W. Beaver, Noah N. Weissmueller, Rachael J. Beaver, Morgan K. Beaver and Kyle R. Beaver and one sister, Petra R. Emerman.

FUNERAL NOTICE: At Ollie's request, there will be no memorial service. In lieu of flowers, her family suggests donations in her memory may be made to Hospice Care in the Berkshires or Berkshire Hematology Oncology, both of Pittsfield in care of FLYNN & DAGNOLI-MONTAGNA HOME FOR FUNERALS CENTRAL CHAPEL, 74 Marshall St. North Adams, MA 01247. For further information, please visit www.flynndagnolifuneralhomes.com.