Main Street

Plaque can barely get all the honors listed

By Mary Ann Cook

DISTINGUISHED MATHEMATICIAN: Los Gatan Paul R. Halmos, professor emeritus of mathematics at Santa Clara University, has received the highest award given by the Mathematics Association of America (MAA). The award is the Yueh-Gin Gung and Charles Y. Hu Award for Distinguished Service to Mathematics for 2000. How do they get all that on a plaque?

Halmos, who lives at the Meadows, is distinguished for his research in operator theory and ergodic theory and for his extraordinary skills in mathematical exposition. He has an outstanding career as author and editor, having published 15 books and monographs, 117 articles and 25 reviews.

His books such as Finite Dimensional Vector Spaces, Naive Set Theory and Measure Theory are considered classics. He is equally renowned as an editor and has received many awards for expository writing, including the Steele Prize for Mathematical Exposition from the American Mathematical Society.

He won the MAA Award for Distinguished College or University Teaching of Mathematics in 1993. His collected works are published in two volumes by Springer. Honorary degrees were awarded him from University of St. Andrews and DePauw University.

Halmos is an honorary fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh and an honorary member of the Hungarian Academy of Science. Whew. I'm suitably impressed. Now if I could only figure out what a vector or an ergodic theory was I might be able to add it all up in MAA- speak.

The prestigious award was presented at the national meeting of the association in January. Only three other northern Californians have won the award-- George Polya, Henry Alder and Leon Henkin.

A WALK AWAY: Longtime Scoutmaster guru Vic Collord, hospitalized for four months last year, is now so well-mended that he was able to walk on his own to Forbes Mill Museum, a distance of some four blocks. The impetus for his solo sojourn was the 75th natal day surprise celebration for Ted Simonson hosted by Patti Hughes at Forbes Mill. Some 150-200 people, in addition to the newly-robust Collord, dropped by with good wishes for the former los Gatos High School principal. Simonson thought he was a docent that day, thanks to the subterfuge of Bob Skuse.

Judy Bingman played sax, Nick Tuttle read a congratulatory poem, Rene Neuner made and hung a poster at the high school to publicize the event. In lieu of presents, people brought cookies, and the overflow was sent to an appreciative Live Oak Center. All 75 candles were lit, and the museum's closing time extended.

Los Gatos at War is the theme of the exhibit now at the museum, a subject Simonson knows well, having served in WW II. A reception for the exhibit will be held Feb. 27 from noon to 4 p.m. Museum hours are noon to 4 p.m. Tues.-Sun. Call 408.395.7375 for details.

SASO GARDENS: Though retired, Virginia and Louis Saso continue to educate others about the splendors and therapeutic benefits of gardening and herbs. Their apprentice classes begin in February for eight sessions.

Some apprentices are so dedicated they volunteer to work at the garden long after attending the program. Two such apprentices are Rotrout Wolter of Saratoga and Lonni Goldman of Los Gatos. Lecture tours and craft classes begin in April. Daughter Mary Lou Saso will help teach the craft classes.

ANNIVERSARY SONG: Jim and Helen Riley celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary. Jim is an active member of Los Gatos Lions Club.

PEN WOMEN: Tickets for the Pen Women Celebrity Luncheon slated for Feb. 26 at the San Jose Elk's Club, 444 W. Alma, can be ordered through Felicia Pollock at 408.867-4089. Her address is 13561 Old Tree Way, Saratoga. 95070. Tickets are $25, and the money raised goes toward a scholarship.

Those to be honored include two Los Gatans--Carol Greene and Mary Ann Cook. Greene is a singing ventriloquist. I, on the other hand, am usually asked not to sing and try not to put words in people's mouths. At least words I didn't hear.

Other honorees are Clarice Lincoln, Jane Hofstetter, Mary Chabiel, Alice Lee, Pam Paige and Holly Laske. Hofstetter is a popular watercolor teacher at Hakone.

OFFICERS: New Los Gatos Yacht Club officers are Ted Miller, commodore; Frank Schwarb, vice commodore; Joan Timpany, rear commodore; Leo Feltz, staff commodore; Robert Bauer, treasurer; Laurel Kaleda, secretary; Ann Rice, editor; and Mary Morris and Lew Krumm, directors.

The group meets the second Tuesday of the month at California Cafe, Los Gatos. For information call 408.356.0541.

TOWN SPOKESPERSONS: Here were the folks plucked out by the video camera to tout the attractions of Los Gatos in the Backroads episode aired on TV recently: Ted Simonson, Marlyn Rasmussen, Mary Foster and Jan Hutchins.

Obviously some of it was filmed some time ago since Mary Foster died more than a year ago.

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