Ronald K. Getoor

1929 - 2017

Ronald K. Getoor February 9, 1929 - October 28, 2017 San Diego Ronald Kay Getoor died peacefully at home on October 28, 2017 in La Jolla at the age of 88. Ronald is survived by wife Anne Westbrook Getoor, daughter Lise Getoor of Santa Cruz, CA, brother Richard Getoor of OH, sister Jackie Kuthy of FL, stepchildren Thomas Westbrook and John Westbrook, step-grandchildren Emma, Lilli, Marian, and Philip, niece Donna Beshgetoor, and nieces and nephews in CA, NV, MI, and OH. Ron was born on February 9, 1929 in Royal Oak, MI, to Karekin Getoor and Ruth Eberle Getoor. After graduating from Royal Oak High School in 1946, Ron attended the University of Michigan where he completed his AB, MS and PhD degrees in mathematics. Ron held academic positions at Princeton and the University of Washington and visiting positions at MIT and Stanford, before joining the Mathematics Department at the University of California, San Diego in 1966. He had a long and distinguished career in research, and was a valued mentor and colleague. He authored several canonical texts in his area of expertise, probability theory, and close to 100 papers. Ron was honored as a Fellow in the American Mathematical Society and the Institute of Mathematical Statistics, and was an invited speaker at the International Congress of Mathematicians. He often expressed gratitude for having a great job in a beautiful place. He retired as Professor Emeritus of Mathematics in 2000. Ron will be fondly remembered for his passion for research, dry wit, and love of the ocean, nature, good food, wine and good friends. Ron's family gives heartfelt thanks to his caregivers for their kindness and skill at keeping him comfortable at home. A fund has been established in his name, the Ronald Getoor Memorial Fund, for Mathematical Probability Research, at UC San Diego. Donations can be made through UCSD, http://bit.ly/GetoorMemorialFund. A memorial service will be scheduled at a later date for his friends and extended family.