Carl Riehm was born in Kitchener on May 2, 1935, the son of Eldon and Mary. He died peacefully on March 16, at Hamilton General Hospital. He is survived by his wife of 62 years, Elaine, his son Derek and daughter-in-law Lourdes, his son Marc and daughter-in-law Anna, and his grandchildren Kira, Gordon, Lauren, Graham, Diego and Catalina. Carl was educated at the University of Toronto and Princeton University where he received a Ph.D. in mathematics. He pursued an academic career, teaching at McGill University, the University of Notre Dame and McMaster University. He remained active in his retirement and was a founding member of The Fields Institute for Research in Mathematical Sciences at the University of Toronto. Carl's life-long passions included birdwatching, squash, gardening, wine and Alsace. He will be remembered for the lovely and funny stories which he always told at the gatherings of family and friends. He was a man of steadfast integrity and honesty. A celebration of life will be held in the fall. Donations in Carl's memory are welcome, to the Fields Institute for Research in Mathematical Sciences or to the Salvation Army.

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

Published by Waterloo Region Record on Mar. 20, 2021.

Memories and Condolences
for Carl Riehm

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16 Entries

Nguyen Quoc Thang

January 11, 2023

Elaine, Derek, Marc and families,
I send you my sincerest condolences to you and your entire family.
I am too late to know and am so sorry to hear about Carl's passing.
I was so fortunate to be his post-doctoral student at McMaster.
I never forget such a wonderful, considerate gentleman!
I still remember his kind smiles, his smiling eyes while talking to me.
I remember vividly the time I spent at your wonderful dinner in your house, the time we spent together when he drove me
(yes, he drove all the time during the trip, because I did not have a driving license) all the way along the Rhein river to Oberwolfach to attend a conference...
Carl will be missed greatly as a great mentor, a friend by all who know him.

Ed Wright

March 24, 2022

I met Professor Riehm as a first year Notre Dame graduate student in 1968/69. He interviewed all first year students that were to be in his basic algebra class. He asked me to talk about normal subgroups. It caught me completely off guard, my mind went blank. I doodled some things on the chalk board- but really had to confess that I had forgotten.
[I had spent the summer of 68 in Memphis working nights as a "night watchman" at the Memphis yacht club and days working as a computer programmer at a research hospital. All that to stay close to my college girl friend who (after I was obligated to these jobs) decided to take a road trip that summer. Recall Memphis was not the best place to be in the summer of 1968. ]
Professor Riehm was very understanding and kind to me during this interview. He could have easily written me off- I was just an unknow from an unknown southern college-, but he took the time to see that I was qualified to be in his class.
I totally enjoyed Professor Riehm's algebra class- he was a marvelous teacher and a kind man.
Sincere condolences to all those close to him.

Mark Lau and Susan Chan

Planted Trees

Maurice Shrader-Frechette

April 12, 2021

Elaine, Derek, Marc and families, I am so sorry to hear of Carl's passing. What a wonderful, considerate, patient man! Carl was my Ph.D. thesis advisor, so I can attest to his patience. And considerate! The transition from Notre Dame to McMaster occurred while he was my advisor, and he graciously arranged for me to come to Canada as a teaching assistant in the mathematics department. I knew that Carl loved watching birds, and that is why I bought a pair of binoculars and started learning about them. I still watch birds, and now I think to myself how grateful I am to have been influenced by him in so many ways. Elaine, I thank you for your hospitality while I was at McMaster--the wonderful dinners at your home and the rides with you and Carl to hear performances of the Hamilton Symphony.

Luke Chang

March 29, 2021

Elaine, I am sorry to hear about the passing of Carl. My heartfelt condolences go out to you and all his family.

I remember the times when Carl and I would go out for dim-sum during our lunch period to a nearby Chinese restaurant in Chinatown. We shared good food and laugh. He was a wonderful friend and a great human being. I will miss him very much.

Bill Noble

March 24, 2021

My wife Barry and I were sorry to see the notice of Carl’s passing. We only knew Carl and Elaine from a distance as I am a second or perhaps a third cousin of Elaine’s as or fathers were first cousins. I attended their wedding in Toronto and we both lived in Toronto area in the early 60s but lost contact for the past 50 plus years as we moved frequently . I remember Carl as a kind and energetic man with many interests and an active mind. He and Elaine were a wonderful couple and Carl will be missed. Our condolences and sympathy to the entire family but most particularly Elaine whom we have missed seeing these many years

Sincerely Barry and Bill Noble

Alison Conway

March 22, 2021

I worked with Carl for many years and always enjoyed our interactions. To me he was an eminence grise and the person to turn to when I had a question that needed an explanation a layperson could understand. He also had the longest memory of the Fields Institute and I can still hear his laughter echoing in the building.

Marion Leslie-Bethune

March 21, 2021

To Elaine, Derek, Marc and families I send my deepest sympathy at this time of your great loss. May you be comforted in knowing that your loss is widely shared as Carl was deeply loved, admired and respected by all those whose lives he touched.

Shirley Proctor Lewis

March 21, 2021

I never had the pleasure of Meeting Carl, but Elaine was a valued friend back in the days of Lawrence Park Collegiate. Condolences to Elaine and her family. I send this on behalf of myself and Ada Macpherson who would have been saddened by Elaine's loss, but alas Ada, like Carl, died earlier this month.

Connie Oosterlinck

March 20, 2021

Elaine, Marc, Derek and families. My sincere condolences for the loss of Dr. Riehm. He will be greatly missed.

Marilyn van Kessel Herlich

March 19, 2021

Such a gentleman..been years since our thoughts have touched .....our deepest condolences to your family Carl..I'm sure you will be missed greatly..
Marilyn van Kessel Herlich

Richard Capling

March 18, 2021

Fond memories of our youth. After choir practice we would go to Carl’s home to watch the Howdy Doody tv program. Carl was the only one of our friends who had a television set. We attended the wedding in Toronto many years ago, and then Carl sky-rocketed in higher mathematics. Sincere condolences to Elaine and the family.

Domenica Mazepa

March 18, 2021

Elaine, Derek, Marc and families. With a heavy heart, my sincere condolences for the loss of Dr. Riehm. My fondest memory of Dr. Riehm was him walking into the office with his squash raquet, always having the time to stop for a minute to tell us (Math staff) a little story. Always so proud of Elaine, his kids and grandkids. It is a very sad time for everyone who knew Dr. Riehm. We were all enriched to have known him. May he rest in peace and live on in his children and grandchildren.

Barbara Keyfitz

March 18, 2021

We have wonderful memories of Carl. He was a great friend to Fields, and a great friend to me - infinitely helpful, infinitely thoughtful. I am sorry not to have one more chance to hear from him.

Elaine, our hearts go out to you. May you find comfort and look forward to happier times.

Paula Marcoux

March 18, 2021

I'm so sorry for your loss. Dr. Riehm was such a wonderful man and could always make us laugh. He was always smiling when he would drop by the office (Math & Stats, McMaster) and always so kind to all of us. He will be missed. God bless you and your family.

Nick Pocrnic

March 18, 2021

Dr. Riehm was an amazing professor who taught me 4th year math at McMaster. He stands out as one of my favorites at McMaster because I firmly believe had it not been for him, I would not have graduated that year. It speaks to the type of man he was. It saddens me to hear that he is no longer with us. To Anna and Marc...my sincerest condolences to you and your entire family. May he rest in eternal peace.

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