Memories of My Father

Abstract

I'd like to begin by thanking you all for coming, and for your care and support for my father through a difficult time. I have known many of you since I was a small child, and many of you, especially his students, are like my extended family and academic siblings. I'd like to acknowledge the members of Jerry's family who are here today. His wife Barbara, and her parents Fiddi and Freddy, my brother Chris and his fiancée Lisa, my aunt Judy and her husband Bud, my cousin Cindy, my brother-in-law Andy, and my husband Mitchell. I would like to also take this chance to say a special thank you to Wendy McKay, for whom the title assistant does not do justice, and for the many years of dedication, support, and loving care she gave to my dad and his students. In addition, I would like to thank my father's doctors for their dedicated care and support. My dad told me during one of his treatment visits, " Maybe in my next life I'll be a biologist. " I told him " Dad, really you'd hate biology—it's too messy! " But he replied " No no, we just haven't yet discovered all of the underlying organizing principles, because it must be a beautiful subject. " We can all only hope that his wish comes to pass, because a young biologist Jerry, eagerly working in a lab somewhere, may be our best hope for a future cure to cancer. I have always felt lucky and exceedingly proud to be the daughter of Jerry Marsden. Not only was he a brilliant mathematician, but he was, as many of his colleagues also know, a kind and generous person with a gentle soul. As a wonderful and caring father, 11