Maynard Goodwin Arsove

Maynard ARSOVE Maynard Goodwin Arsove, 88, a mathematician and civic activist, passed away peacefully on November 14th. He was born in Lincoln, Nebraska and raised in Rochester, NY. A gifted student, Maynard won scholarships to Lehigh University and Brown University, where he received a Ph.D. in mathematics and met his wife, Germaine. They spent a year in France after Maynard was awarded a Fulbright scholarship, then moved to Seattle in 1951, when Maynard joined the faculty at the University of Washington. His distinguished career as professor of mathematics included three years on sabbatical leaves with his family in France and Germany, where he formed lasting friendships with his European colleagues. Maynard leaves a lasting legacy to the City of Seattle through his great foresight and community activism. In the late 1960s and early 70s, he led a spirited grassroots coalition, Citizens Against the R.H. Thompson, which helped defeat a planned freeway that would have destroyed the UW Arboretum and many homes in Montlake. The dead-end ramp off the 520 bridge and the vibrant lower Montlake neighborhood are continuing reminders of his immense contributions. He also worked to defeat the proposed Bay Freeway at the south end of Lake Union. Maynard was an avid photographer and bicyclist, and had an abiding love of nature and animals. He enjoyed classical music, playing flute and piano, chess, electronics, languages, travel, and hiking on Mt Rainier. He was a kind person with an ever-present sense of humor who was greatly loved and admired by his family. He is survived by his wife Germaine, and daughters Alison, Priscilla, Lise and Pamela (Richard Warren), and grandchildren Daniel Szabo, Kate Warren, and Blake Warren. Contributions in his name may be made to The Nature Conservancy or the Northwest Ecosystem Alliance (NWEA).