Leonard "Aryeh" Faltz

1940 - 2021

Leonard 'Aryeh' Faltz

Leonard 'Aryeh' Faltz passed away on December 28, 2020. Aryeh was born October 11, 1940, in the Bronx, N.Y., the only child of Joseph and Charlotte (Landin) Faltz. He attended Bronx Science High School, The City University (CCNY) of New York, earning a bachelor's degree in mathematics, Harvard University, for a master's in mathematics, and The University of California at Berkeley for a Ph.D. in linguistics. He taught at Arizona State University from 1979 until his retirement in 2005, first in the English Department, then in the Department of Computer Science/Engineering. After his retirement, he continued to teach classes in linguistics and mathematics at ASU and Scottsdale Community College. In summers, he assisted the effort to preserve the Navajo language by conducting workshops on Navajo verb structure for The Navajo Language Academy, Window Rock, AZ, (Theodore B. Fernald, Swarthmore College, director). Prior to his arrival at ASU, Aryeh taught mathematics at Harvard, Boston University, and The University of Massachusetts-Boston, and linguistics at UC Berkeley and UCLA. His teaching sometimes extended to family: they fondly recall his ease in explaining to them Einstein's Theory of Relativity despite his audience's lack of ease in understanding.

Aryeh's first love was playing piano, followed by learning new languages and enjoying nature. His enthusiasms extended to learning to play the organ, after which he participated in organ marathons of the American Guild of Organists in 1994 through 1996, as well as playing for church services at several Valley churches. He sang in his church choir for 30 years and sang baritone in several community choruses. A final enthusiasm was Argentine tango, the highlight of which was a trip to Buenos Aires with his wife for tango lessons.

His publications comprise Reflexivization: A Study in Universal Syntax, The Navajo Verb: A Grammar for Students and Scholars, and, with E.L. Keenan, Boolean Semantics for Natural Language, as well as journal articles and conference papers.

Aryeh is survived by his wife, Maureen Schmid, of Chandler, AZ, stepson, Daniel Schmid (Ladera Ranch, CA), stepdaughter, Laura Schmid (Woodstock, GA), and step-grandchildren, Alex and Megan Schmid (Ladera Ranch, CA). He was preceded in death by his parents and daughter-in-law, Sarah Oh Schmid.

Due to COVID restrictions, a memorial service will take place at a later date.