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Joachim LAMBEK Obituary
December 5, 1922 - June 23, 2014
Born in Leipzig, Germany, travelled on the Kindertransport to Britain, and then, with other German Jews, was shipped to a prison work camp in Canada. Graduated from McGill, where he taught his whole career, ending as Peter Redpath Emeritus Professor of Pure Mathematics. Jim was an eminent mathematician, lecturing and publishing in algebra, logic, category theory, computational linguistics, theoretical physics and the history and philosophy of mathematics. He supervised and encouraged generations of students. Jim was generous and witty; he travelled and read widely; he loved dining out and good company. He leaves his sister Sonja Goldstein, sons Michael (Jackie Solway), Larry and Bernie (Linda Sproul), grandchildren Dominic, Nadia, Matthew, Simon, William and Joelle, and great-granddaughter Siena. A Memorial Service will be held in the fall. Condolences may be sent to www.kanefetterly.com.
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16 Entries
Elaine Landry
September 19, 2014
Jim took me under his wing when I was a graduate student at Western and then a postdoctoral fellow at McGill; he was a constant source of inspiration and support. He most recently submitted a paper for a book I am preparing and was concerned that he might not see it in published form; I will be sure that others do!! You, and your smile, will be greatly missed!
Suzanne Daningburg
September 17, 2014
My condolences go out to all of Jim's family in this time. Jim was a good neighbor and friend. We enjoyed many conversations about language; Jim especially loved puns and always had a funny story or joke to bring laughter to the table.
May he rest in peace.
Dana Scott
August 25, 2014
Goodbye, Jim. Thanks a million for all the stimulation! With you around, there was never a dull moment.
Michael Lambek
August 17, 2014
A memorial for Jim will be held Saturday, Sept. 20 from 12:00 - 2:00 at Birks Heritage Chapel, McGill University, 3520 University Street.
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July 27, 2014
Professor Lambek (I could not stop calling him that despite the fact that each time I did so he said: `please, call me Jim'), was a really nice and smart, and a very kind person. He showed me how to apply the kind of maths I was doing to linguistics and work has been so much more enjoyable ever since. He loved to say anecdotes, here is one of my favourites: a bunch of mathematicians and linguistics went to a cafe in Montreal. When the bill came, there was a problem, the mathematicians could not do the division and the linguistics could not read French!
Beatriz Rumbos
July 20, 2014
Brilliant scholar and one of the most generous human beings I've ever met. He was the best Ph.D supervisor I could have ever had.
Amazing guy!
Beatriz Rumbos
July 20, 2014
A brilliant scholar and one of the most generous human beings I've ever met. He was the best Ph.D supervisor I could have ever had. Amazing guy!
Silvia Ohana
July 19, 2014
Hey Jim, I am sorry you left us and will keep you in my prayers. As a student I appreciated your clarity of mind and the volume of your knowledge, but most of all your gentle and cordial code of conduct. Well whether time is three dimensional or just this long road, we'll meet again. May your spirit rest in Eden. Amen
Kosta Dosen and Zoran Petric
July 3, 2014
Jim Lambek is the father of categorial proof theory. So intellectually he is a father not only of his official pupils, but of all his followers working in that field. His name is, and with time should become even more, famous not only in proof theory, but in logic in general. Although he was not a logician by training, his merits in the field are outstanding; much more so than those of many leading living logicians.
Giovanni Sambin
July 3, 2014
Hi Jim, I will feel your absence at congresses, where I got to know you since a long time. It was a pleasure to talk with you, feeling your special sensitivity and thought independence. I am honored to be one of those who could call you Jim, as you suggested to me. Fare well!
Giovanni (Sambin)
Philip Scott
June 29, 2014
Jim Lambek was not only my mentor and co-author, but a close friend. I came to Montreal in the 1970's, when Jim kindly invited me to become his research assistant. As he did with so many generations of scholars before and after, Jim helped launch my academic career. He was a brilliant and wide-ranging researcher and teacher of extraordinary creativity. Yet I remember him above all as a cultured, extremely kind and generous man, with a wonderful and whimsical sense of humour. His loss to all of us is deeply felt. My sincerest condolences to his family and friends.
Robert Seely
June 28, 2014
Jim was my first logic teacher, and his course inspired me to a career in categorical logic and proof theory. He has been a valued colleague, a lasting inspiration, and a cherished friend. His influence in our field is not only due to the excellence and imagination of his work, but also to the generosity of his spirit. He will be profoundly missed; his type do not come along often.
Marta Bunge
June 27, 2014
Jim Lambek made it possible for me and my husband to come to McGill University in 1966 and for this I am grateful. Over the years Jim became a friend and not just a colleague. We shared many interests in addition to mathematics. I will miss him very much.
Jim Lambek at MFPS 2008
June 27, 2014
Jim Lambek at the LambekFest 2002
June 27, 2014
Jim Lambek in late 2012
June 27, 2014
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