James H. Bramble

1930 - 2021

James H. Bramble

Austin, TX - James H. Bramble, renowned American mathematician, teacher, and mentor, died at his home in Austin, Texas on July 20, 2021. He was 90.

Dr. Bramble received his bachelor's degree from Brown University in 1953 and his PhD degree from the University of Maryland in 1958. After working for General Electric and the Naval Ordnance Laboratory, he became a professor at the University of Maryland and then at Cornell University, where he led the interdisciplinary Center for Applied Mathematics. From 1975 to 1983, he was chief editor for the distinguished journal, Mathematics of Computation. He completed his career at Texas A&M University, where he retired as Distinguished Professor Emeritus. He also was Professor Emeritus at Cornell. He taught numerous undergraduate and graduate students, mentored 22 PhD students, and had colleagues throughout the world.

Dr. Bramble worked on the mathematical analysis of numerical methods for partial differential equations. His early work involved the mathematical analysis of finite difference methods for elliptic problems. His later work was more focused on the numerical analysis of finite element methods. His most famous result, the Bramble-Hilbert Lemma, was a collaborative effort with his PhD student, Stephen Hilbert. Dr. Bramble received an honorary doctorate from Chalmers University in Sweden in recognition of his important contributions to mathematics.

In 1978, Dr. Bramble married Margaret (Peggy) Hays, now deceased. Following his retirement, he and Peggy settled in Austin and Ithaca, New York, where they enjoyed entertaining friends and family, playing golf and tennis, and boating.

James Henry Bramble was born on December 1, 1930 in Annapolis, Maryland to Edith and Clinton Bramble. He had two sisters, Mary Aller and Barbara Lawrence, both deceased. He is survived by his four children, Margot Dermody of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Tamara Lamenzo of Needham, Massachusetts, Mitzi Bramble of Harwich, Massachusetts, and James Bramble of Austin, his step-son, Alan Hays of Ithaca, and eight grand-children. He also is survived by his first wife, Mary Eppie Boze. He will be remembered fondly by family, friends, and colleagues worldwide.