Stephen TELLMAN

1934 - 2018

TELLMAN, Stephen beloved husband of Jen Tellman passed away on October 21, 2018. Steve was son of Herb and Helene Tellman. He was born in Detroit, Michigan in 1934, and grew up in an Air Force family, traveling around the country before settling in Sacramento, CA as a teenager. Steve received his Bachelor's degree from Reed College and Ph.D in mathematics from the University of Washington. After graduating, he taught briefly at Pomona College before joining the math department at the University of Arizona in 1965. He remained on the faculty for 33 years, introducing thousands of students to the joys and sorrows of calculus, linear algebra and statistics before retiring in 1998. He had an impressive ability to overcome obstacles and remain positive in the face of difficulties. He battled back from polio as a teenager and showed a similar determination and optimistic attitude in his later years as he faced decreasing mobility and other medical issues. Steve spent his retirement continuing to study and write. In addition to his love of math, he enjoyed classical music and had a daunting collection of classical CDs and LPs, ranging from Josquin des Prez to Iannis Xenakis. In addition to Jen, he is survived by his son, Edwin; daughter, Carol; and step-daughter, Ginette. Arrangements by ADAIR FUNERAL HOMES Avalon Chapel.