WHITMAN-RICHARDS-Obituary

WHITMAN A. RICHARDS

Newton, Massachusetts

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Newton, Massachusetts

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RICHARDS, Whitman A. MIT Professor of Cognitive Science, dies at 84. A member of the MIT community for over 60 years—died September 16th at his home in Newton, MA after living for several years with myelofibrosis, which ultimately led to his death.A native Bostonian, he first arrived at MIT in...

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As time passes and our society is making major leaps towards AI, your indirect predictions become more and more salient year by year. Your memory will be eternal we miss you Professor.

My beloved Professor Whitman, this year once again you came into my mind a few times as always it was inspiring and strategic at the same time. Your memory truly eternal!

Another year has passed, missing him very much. Love to the family, Shimon

Your memory is continuous my beloved professor may this be eternal!

One more year with your memories intact, the kindness, all the things you taught me directly or indirectly. May your memory be eternal!

My Dear Mentor you live always in my state of mind. Often I remember our interactions as it was yesterday and apply the learnings in my life. Thank you for being there for me these days, thank you for your mind and kindness. May God Rest your Soul!

Professor Richards was an amazing supporter of the MIT squash team. I got to know him as a squash player and as a friend of the MIT team in 1989 as a freshmen. He was an intense yet fair squash player himself. When everybody switched from hardball to softball, he found the transition difficult. To his credit, the last time I saw him on the squash court (I think around 2008), he was still trying his best to learn the new sport. He was never going to give up! Typical Prof. Whit!

We had...

Whitman was one of my biggest influences (both personally and professionally). It was indeed an honor and a pleasure to have his advisement during my Ph.D. at MIT. He will be missed.

I was one of his students in his class at MIT during my Ph.D. He helped me think through many difficult concepts of computational social science through simpler exercises that eventually led me to focus my thesis work im that area. Whitman definitely cared for one's understanding of theories and was one of the most valuable teacher in my life.