Professor Samuel (Sandy) Blank passed away in October 2022.

Professor Blank joined the Department of Mathematics in 1967 and has been an esteemed, dedicated member of the Department for over 56 years.

In his time in the Department, he advised numerous PhD students, several of them becoming his colleagues in the Department. One of them commented, “Sandy was a true Renaissance man, who was seemingly intrigued by, and knowledgeable about, everything. Add to that his terrific sense of humor and you have someone who was always one of the most interesting, enthusiastic, and fun people in the room.”

Professor Blank provided invaluable guidance to graduate students as part of the Teaching Assistant Training Program in Math. In this role he encouraged new students and supported their academic development as students and teachers. His colleague remembers, “Sandy was very caring; he was known for going the extra mile.”

Professor Blank was instrumental in designing the Math Calculus for Biology undergraduate courses he taught; structuring the courses to be mutually beneficial to both the Department of Mathematics as well as the Department of Biology.

Professor Sandy Blank was an outstanding member of the Department of Mathematics and will be missed and remembered fondly and with greatest respect by his colleagues, students, and staff.