In memoriam: Barth Pollak, professor emeritus of arithmetic | Information | Notre Dame Information

Barth Pollak, professor emeritus of arithmetic on the College of Notre Dame, died Feb. 17 in Brookline, Massachusetts. He was 94.

Born and raised in Chicago, Pollak earned his bachelor’s and grasp’s levels in arithmetic from the Illinois Institute of Know-how (IIT). With a fellowship from the Nationwide Science Basis, he obtained his doctorate from Princeton College, after which served on the arithmetic panel of the Scientific Advisory Board for the Nationwide Safety Company.

Pollak then served on the arithmetic schools at IIT and Syracuse College earlier than coming to Notre Dame in 1963, the place he spent 37 years instructing and conducting analysis on arithmetic concept of quadratic varieties, classical teams and algebraic quantity concept. 

“Barth and I have been colleagues and associates for six many years,” John Derwent, affiliate professor emeritus of arithmetic, stated. “He cherished arithmetic and instructing and hated administration. Most of all he cherished his spouse, Helen, and his kids Martin and Eleanor, each of whom have had distinguished careers in medication.”

Pollak obtained the Rev. James L. Shilts, C.S.C./Doris and Gene Leonard Instructing Award from the School of Science in 1993 for excellence in instructing on the undergraduate or graduate degree.

Pollak was preceded in dying by his spouse and is survived by his son and daughter, their spouses and two grandsons. A web-based service in celebration of his life will happen this spring.

In lieu of flowers, the household requests memorial donations in Pollak’s honor be made to Math Circles of Chicago.