Elliot S. Wolk

1919 - 2015

Elliot S. Wolk, of Storrs, CT, died Saturday, April 18, 2015. He was born on August 5, 1919 in Springfield, Massachusetts, the son of Max and Jennie (Robinson) Wolk. He received a B.A. degree from Clark University in 1940. From 1942 to 1945 he served in the U.S. Army Air Force as a weather forecaster and was stationed with the 460th Bomb Group in Italy. Elliot received his M.S. degree in 1947 and his Ph. D. in 1954, both in Mathematics at Brown University. In 1950 he became an Instructor in Mathematics at the University of Connecticut, rising to full Professor in 1964. From 1967 to 1973 he served as the Head of the Mathematics Department at the University. He served for 26 years in the University Senate and was Chairman of its Executive Committee from 1982 to 1985. He was a founding member and first President of the Federation of University Teachers (AFT). He was the University faculty representative on the Connecticut Board of Governors for Higher Education, 1977-1985. His mathematical interests were in set theory and general topology, in which he published numerous research articles in mathematical journals. He received several NSF research grants, and was the co-author of a widely used textbook on Calculus and Analytic Geometry. After his retirement as Professor Emeritus in 1988, he continued with University activities in the Center for Judaic Studies and as Curriculum Chairman for the Center for Learning in Retirement. He often gave courses for "Learning in Retirement" groups on books of the Hebrew Bible. He was also well-known as a chess player, and was at one time the Connecticut State Champion. He was predeceased by his wife of 56 years Eleanor F. Wolk, née Lisniansky, by eight years, and his son Joel (Shaul Wallach) by three and a half years. Elliot leaves a son, Daniel Wolk, of Chicago, Illinois; daughter, Sara Lisniansky of Adamant, Vermont; sister, Vera Elkin, of Newton, Pennsylvania; sister-in-law, Sandra Wolk, widow of his late brother Herman, of Rockville, Maryland; He also leaves eight grandchildren: Nehemiah, Avraham, Zipporah, Eliyahu, Michael, Yaakov, Risa, and Laila; and twenty-eight great-grandchildren. In lieu of flowers, please make donations to the Alzheimer's Association, Project A.L.S., the National Yiddish Book Center, or other charity of your choice. Services will be held at 1:00 PM on Monday, April 20, 2015 at Potter Funeral Home, 456 Jackson St. (RTE 195) Willimantic, CT, burial to follow. To sign the online memorial guestbook please visit, www.potterfuneralhome.com