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Dan Willard Obituary
GLENMONT - Dan Edward Willard passed away early in the morning on January 21, 2023, three days after the passing of his only sibling, Deborah Goldenberg.
He is survived by his wife, Irina, and son Robert. Dan grew up in a loving Jewish family of four in Roslyn Heights, N.Y. He graduated from The Wheatley School, completed a B.A. at Stony Brook, and defended his Ph.D. in mathematics at Harvard University. Working as a professor in computer science at SUNY Albany, Dan made major contributions to science: the Trivers-Willard hypothesis in evolutionary biology, fusion trees for data sorting, and self-verifying axiom systems, that address weaknesses in Goedel's Second Incompleteness Theorem. He called his son "my greatest paper." Friends of Dan's son remember his generosity and intellect. Friends of his wife remember his tolerance and supportiveness. We were blessed to have him in our lives.
Final services for Dan were on January 25, 2023.
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
Memories and Condolences
for Dan Willard
2 Entries
James P. Torre, IV
December 9, 2023
I corresponded with Professor Willard for two and a half years, beginning in 2020, concerning his work on Self-Justifying Axiom Systems, which I believe hold great promise for future developments in mathematical logic and computer science. Though I am only an avocational participant in his field, he was very generous in talking about his discoveries, his career, his family, and his thoughts on the wider world. Because his eyesight was failing, he would often call me in response to my various e-mails, and we would talk late into the night. He kindly included me in the acknowledgements of what I believe to be his last publication, after allowing me to review the paper. Fortunately, I was able to meet with him once in person, a few months before his death, to discuss his work and life for what proved to be our final time.
Beyond being an excellent example of a certain type of old breed of academic, he expressed great love and concern for his family, especially his son, whom he presented as a cosmopolitan world-traveller and expert polyglot.
I continue to study his research, and intend to ensure that I am not the last.
Anyone who had a professional or personal relationship with Dan Willard, especially as a colleague or student, is welcome to contact me: jpt4 proton me.
[2023DEC09]
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Michael Gerrish
January 29, 2023
I met Dan a few years ago when out on a neighborhood run. He was a kind and gentle soul who loved his wife and was so very proud of his son. May his memory be a blessing.
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