August 9, 1947 - March 9, 2008
Dr. James Totten, B.A., M.Ma, PhD was my mathematics mentor during my years at UCC (now TRU) and beyond. I knew him simply as Jim. His door was always open - always. He delighted in talking mathematics and many afternoons we would caught up analyzing some problem or another or just discussing life. To us life was mathematics and vice versa. Many a time he would glance at his watch realizing it was past dinner time and remark that he'd better head home cause Lynne was waiting for him.
Lynne - his students were glad to have had that time with him and I apologize on their behalf if we ever kept him too late.
It has been just a little over a year since his passing but I still think of him often and truly miss his presence in my life. He had a passion for mathematics and for teaching mathematics that was unparalleled. In my humble little way I try each day in my classes to capture a bit of that essence and I hope that he is proud of what I do.
Thompson Rivers University (TRU) is putting on a conference called Sharing Mathematics - A Tribute to Jim Totten. The website for the conference is at http://www.tru.ca/sharingmath/index.html.
Jim - You inspired many of us to take up the baton of sharing mathematics and we do it proudly and in your honour. I am eternally indebted to you for believing in me and for igniting that passion. In sincerely hope you are sitting next to Erdos and reading "The Book".
I love you. I miss you.
Home Boy, I found your new site and have been getting caught up on your posts: you have been living large!
ReplyDeleteHow is your leg healing?
This post about Jim surprised me; what did he die from? He was only 9 years older than me....scary.
Nice acronym WebApe (WA). I don't know what it was from but it was sudden. I was still in China when it happened.
ReplyDeleteHe died of a sudden heartattack with no prewarning. Thank-you for your nice words Darren and I am sure he is looking down proudly.
ReplyDeleteDean Totten