James B. Serrin

Serrin, James B. A Regents' Professor in the Department of Mathematics at the University of Minnesota, died at his home in Minneapolis on Thursday, August 23rd, at the age of 85 due to congestive heart failure. Professor Serrin earned his Ph.D. from the University of Indiana in 1951 and came to Minnesota in 1954 after having been a C.L.E. Moore Instructor at MIT and a Fine Instructor of Mathematics at Princeton University. From 1964 to 1965 he was the Head of the School of Mathematics at Minnesota, and was made a Regents' Professor in 1969. Serrin was known throughout the world for his fundamental research on the properties of basic mathematical models for the flow of gases and liquids, and for the mechanical and thermodynamical behavior of materials. He was a member of the National Academy of Science and the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, as well as a foreign member of both the Finnish Academy of Sciences and the "Academia dei Lincei" in Rome. Among his other achievements, he received G.D. Birkhoff Prize in Applied Mathematics in 1973, and was awarded honorary doctorates by four European universities. Even after his retirement in 1995, and as recently as May of this year, Professor Serrin continued to do celebrated research, present at conferences and collaborate on published materials. In his personal life James Serrin had a love of beauty and a deep appreciation for the great works of music, art, architecture and literature, along with a love of ideas and a tremendous regard for the life of the mind. He traveled extensively to visit his family and friends as well as opening his home for many formal and informal occasions, welcoming friends, colleagues and acquaintances to share conversation and a glass of lemonade. He is survived by his beloved wife of nearly 60 years, Barbara Serrin, and his three daughters, Martha Stack, Elizabeth Conley, and Janet Sucha, all of whom were present at his passing. He is also survived by his grandchildren, Isabel Sucha, Spencer Sucha, Julian Conley, and Chloë Conley, his sons-in-law, Christopher Stack, Charles Conley, and Frank Sucha, as well as by his brother Richard Serrin, his sister-in-law, Dorothy Serrin, and his nieces, Saskia Serrin and Aletta Mutz. He was a loving husband, father, brother, uncle, and friend and he will be greatly missed by all who knew and loved him. Funeral service Friday, August 31, 2012, 1 PM at Minnehaha Church, 3701 E 50th St, Mpls. Visitation Thursday, 7-9 PM at Nokomis Park Chapel, 1838 E. Minnehaha Pkwy, and one hour prior to service at church. Burial at Lakewood Cemetery. Memorials preferred to the donor's favorite charity. www.Washburn-McReavy.com Nokomis Park Chapel 612-721-1651