DAN STEVEN ARCHDEACON

DAN STEVEN ARCHDEACON - BURLINGTON - Dan Steven Archdeacon, a beloved husband, father and son, brother and friend, passed away on Wednesday, Feb. 18, 2015. He spent his final moments at home, surrounded by loved ones. Dan was born in Dayton, Ohio, on May 11, 1954. He spent his early years in Centerville, Ohio, and went on to earn a B.A. at Earlham College (1975) and a Ph.D. in Mathematics at the Ohio State University (1980), where he wrote a groundbreaking and highly cited dissertation entitled, "A Kuratowski Theorem for the Projective Plane." In 1982, he moved to Vermont and joined the faculty of the University of Vermont. Recognized as a leading expert in topological graph theory, Dan published over 70 articles, was an invited speaker at mathematics conferences across the globe (including, just last month, in Slovenia) and held the position of visiting professor at universities in New Zealand, Japan, Denmark, and England. He also helped shape the development of scholar- ship in his field: a prodigious reviewer, he served on the editorial boards of several professional journals. In 2003-04, he was honored by UVM as a University Scholar. Dan especially enjoyed mentoring young scholars. He remained profoundly dedicated to his students and passionate about his field, even in the last days of his life. Dan taught a wide variety of courses and had a unique talent for turning difficult mathematical concepts into fun puzzles. Dan had many loves in his personal life. An avid skier at Mad River Glen and fan of the Ohio State Buckeyes, Dan also enjoyed kayaking on the lake near his Vermont home, hiking in the Green Mountains, and traveling the world with his wife, Mara. He was exceptionally sharp and witty, with a keen sense of humor. Dan was driven by an unwavering sense of duty - to his work, to his family, and to his friends; he never failed to follow through on his commitments and was ever devoted to the wellbeing of the many people he cared for in life. He is survived by his wife of 34 years, Mara Saule; sons, Talis and Nick; siblings, Jim, Bill and spouse, Carol, and Rebecca Houser and husband, Dan; brother-inlaw, Peter Saule and sister-in-law, Michele; nine nieces and nephews; and his mother, Ethel Jean. He was predeceased by his father, Robert Frank Archdeacon. A memorial service will be held at UVM's Ira Allen Chapel on Tuesday, March 10, 2015, at 4 p.m. To send online condolences, please visit www.cremationsocietycc.com. The family wishes to thank Dr. Steven Ades, and the many physicians, nurses, and staff at the Vermont Cancer Center and the Visiting Nurse Association who helped him during these last months. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the Dan Archdeacon Memorial Fund to support graduate students in the Department of Mathematics & Statistics at the University of Vermont.