Gregory Neumer

1939 - 2025

It’s easy to find the darkness in the world and tap into frustration and negativity.  Gregory Neumer never did... 

Neumer, age 85, of Oak Park, beloved husband of Charlotte and father to Chris and Peter, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, March 19, 2025.

Neumer was born in Chicago, Illinois, on June 21, 1939.  He graduated from Northwestern University with a degree in mathematics and then obtained his master’s degree in the same field from Wayne State University.  He went on to teach mathematics at both Evergreen Park (IL) High School and Oak Park River Forest (IL) High School.  If you listened to him, he also worked for the Central Intelligence Agency, dated Ingrid Bergman, and for a summer in grad school, spent time at a nudist colony. 

While Neumer’s pursuits were ostensibly mathematically related, his most important achievements came in arenas that weren’t as tangible.  He brought a lightness and sense of joy to everything he did, which often served to obscure the pain that would (and it could be argued, should) normally be associated with Calculus and Geometry.  He had an almost Tom Sawyer-esque way of making people understand the value of hard work and see the importance of doing the right thing, no matter how difficult it was.

He was a dreamer and an encourager.  He never let minuscule odds stand in the way of suggesting someone try something that they were passionate about.  He was a gardener, a surfer, and birder. He made the world a better place every day for those who had the good fortune to interact with him. He will sorely be missed.

He is survived by his wife Charlotte, sons Christopher and Peter (Hilary Williams), and grandson Lucien Gregory. 

A visitation will be held at Peterson-Bassi Chapels (6938 W North Ave. Chicago, IL 60707) from 2 to 5 p.m. on Sunday, March 23, 2025. The family would love to hear memories and stories about Greg, so please come and share. 

In lieu of flowers or gifts, please talk to your friends and family about the importance of the Riemann Integral.

 

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